Did NJ Transit Screw You Too After U2?

Are we having fun yet? U2 fans desperately try to escape New Jersey.

The buzz was severely harshed last night for thousands of U2 fans making their way back from the Meadowlands to Manhattan. According to multiple reports, the post-concert scene was a total nightmare, with a packed mob left stranded for hours on the platforms. NJT officials tell 1010WINS there were plenty of trains, but there were too few ticket machines to accommodate the throngs of people. But one Gothamist reader describes a different scenario:

It was incredibly disorganized as there were not enough trains to accommodate the amount of concert-goers... At least a couple hundred people left during the encore in hopes of catching an earlier train and avoid the crowd, only to be met with a closed gate at the tracks. The staff didn't open the gates until people were completely pushed up against each other and 500 deep. When they finally allowed us on the platform, people shoved and pushed their way in. It was really unsafe.

Trying to get there was also a nightmare, with some concertgoers describing huge lines in Penn Station to buy tickets, and total confusion when they got off to transfer at Secaucus, where passengers were told they had to buy tickets before boarding the train to the Meadowlands. Disgruntled U2 fan "Amanda" tells NBC it took her three hours go get out to the concert, and during the transfer in Secaucus, there was one attendant trying to help "hundreds of people" waiting for tickets.

After the show, Amanda says, "It was crazy. Once you found your way, there were barricades up to guide the thousands of people pushing and shoving their way towards the area to board the trains." And then it took a half hour for a train to come, according to Amanda. At some point last night, blogger Thighs Wide Shut tweeted, "NJ transit to U2 show at Ghettolands = more fail than Ben Lyons' movie opinion." Good luck to those heading out there for U2's last show tonight, but we have to wonder whether any band is really worth enduring this clusterfuck. (Besides Radiohead.)

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on September 24, 2009 1:30 PM

Comments [rss]

ribaldry

You pent $320 a ticket to see a played out corporate machine. Shoulda stayed local and supported some struggling American bands. At the least the money would stayed in the community and you would have been home, snug in your bed in time to sleep it off, before heading off to your yuppie cubicle after buying your daily Grande Pike.

D

I have a suggestion for all you morons. Drive next time and stop crying. You dont like takin the train? noone told you to. You genuises think youd have a whole train car to yourself? what do you expect. Id hate to one of the poor guys working for transit. I take NJT to work everyday and love the service. Im sure they didnt expect so many of you idiots to go see those losers preach. Ive asked in the past on crowded trains why so crowded. Im told they have so many cars and can only fir a certain amount at some stations. Im sure thats what happened going to the "show". What it comes down to is what I said before. Stop bitchin and drive next time...then see how much longer and more it costs you.

mcfutch

I was at the Thursday night show and bought r/t tix in advance. That translated into a 30 min. trip back after the show (we left during the last song, were on a train @ 11:25 and were drinking Guinness @ Tir Na Nog outside of NY Penn by midnight.

tedstriker

I will never, ever ever defend NJ Transit, but do people not realize that they're sharing an already overcrowded system and expect 10's of thousands of extra passengers to go smoothly?

Consider yourselves lucky because on any given day, you've got a 50-50 shot of either a train breaking down in the tunnel, "Amtrak" switch/signal problems, downed overhead wire, etc. and causing havoc, which didn't happen in the last two days.

@joedeveloper - NJ Transit screws many people *every* week and clearly were not at the ready for additional demand and should have never advertised this as being the best way to get to the Meadowlands, but it's not like they can just add more trains to the system that is already running at full capacity on a regular business day. Maybe for a Sunday football game, but not mid-week.

jm1975

Much better service last night. Waited about a half hour for a train back to NY, was in Penn Station about an hour after the concert was over. Seemed alot more organized then Wed night was reported.

joedeveloper

I think NJ Transit screwed many people this week. I have never seen so many Tweets about a transit system in disarray. sure makes me appreciate the fare greedy MTA even more.

Egglantine

I was expecting the worst after reading these posts but it was actually fine tonight. Long lines in Penn Station but got there in plenty of time. People directing traffic at Seacaucus. Left during the first encore and got back to Penn Station at midnight. They must have made some changes.

chicagodom

Hey, I need your input. So pocket your sarcastic self for a minute and help a brother out, okay?

I'm coming into town for the Springsteen show on October 3rd. (Jersey transplant living in Chicago.) I specifically decided to stay in NYC based on being able to take transit to the show.

Short of leaving before Springsteen is done (which is not going to happen) what are my options? Where was the backup, at the stadium or at the Secaucus transfer station? If I have a buddy with a car, should I just have him drive me to Secaucus? Obviously I'll buy my tickets in advance. Or should I just walk through the Tunnel back to the City?

Thanks for the help. Looking forward to seeing NYC again, it's been a year.

PapiX

Mass transit to NJ or LI at night is a joke. I've regretted it every time I've taken mass transit to the meadowlands. Nothing is more lame than having to check your watch all night and worry about the encore ending on time (it never does).

Sign up for a zipcar account and reserve (now) a car for that night; or get another rental.

You could probably defray some of the rental/parking expense by putting an ad on craigslist offering to carpool to the show.

There's no way to walk back to NYC from the meadowlands.

NannyState

Next time, buy the commemorative deluxe edition fake bootleg DVD. Bitches.

Tim N.

We were also there, though we took the train from Hoboken. Long, long lines for tickets, and the trains were running every half hour, not every 8 minutes.

But coming home was much, much worse. Trains were also leaving every half hour, which was insane given the amount of people waiting. We got back home to Brooklyn at 2 am.

And here's the thing... WE RECEIVED SIX EMAILS TELLING US TO TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE CONCERT because they were EXPECTING 80,000 PEOPLE. Well, IF YOU TELL 80,000 PEOPLE TO TAKE THE TRAIN, DON'T ACT SHOCKED WHEN ALL THESE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO TAKE THE TRAIN! Is anyone listening over at NJ Transit? Oh, an we also purchased round-trip tickets at Hoboken. They are still in my pocket. No one checked on the way home, that's nonsense.

I hate to admit it, but we're going to Springsteen next week, and we're driving. Sorry, environment. Blame the train.

Teddie Boy Eddie

You've got stuck in Secaucus and now you can't get out of it.

SC

You know I'll go crazy if I can't leave Jersey tonight.

kctp702

I will admit it the public transportation situation was not as organized as it could have been, but come on people, use some common sense. Any quick search would have shown there was going to be 80,000 or so there with no bus service. I went to Penn at lunch yesterday and picked up RT tickets, and left U2 right before the encore (I only went to see Muse anyway). Took me like 25 minutes both ways.

mattyp4

Yeah! It's those idiots' faults for actually wanting to see the headlining band! How foolish of them!

jjazznola

I believe this was the 1st concert since the rail station opened in July. A couple of football games but those crowds enjoy driving and tailgating so they do't all leave on the train at the same time. Getting to the stadium from Hoboken was a breeze at 5:00. Leaving was another story. Cabbies could have made a killing last night. It seemed like the opening to get into the station was too narrow. Security would let a hundred or so people in and then stop and wait. They should have an entrance at either end of the station. NJ Transit may want to bring back the busses to the Port Authority or else there's gonna be a riot. Maybe tonight! Great show. Worth a little hassle getting home. Can't wait 'til tonite.

mellow_fellow

The opening was too narrow? That's what she said. :(

Politburo

AC/DC had previously played a sold out show.

PTG in nyc

sorry if this posts twice, but the 1st didn't seem to go through.

I saw YYYs at Radio City, they were amazing, and the F train pulled up immediately.

Bono is a tool and thinks he's even greater now that a bunch of New Yorkers had to go through hell just to see him perform.

Never go to Jersey and never try too hard for U2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8IcF9MYCmg

jjazznola

"Bono is a tool and thinks he's even greater now that a bunch of New Yorkers had to go through hell just to see him perform. Never go to Jersey and never try too hard for U2"

You sound like the (double posting) tool! Did you talk to Bono to get this information? I have seen The YYY's many times and enjoy their music however they are not in the same league as U2 and probably never will be. 160,000 tickets sold out in minutes. What other band does that, besides Springsteen? I went last night and can't wait to go back again tonight. Unlike some of these idiots, I'll just leave a little early to get there and take my time going home. No worries.