NJT Re DINKY Service

Dear Commissioner Simpson,

I've had this general experience an annoying number of times, but this time I decided to record the specifics and offer a solution.

I was on Saturday's local 1:14 pm departure from NYP scheduled to arrive at Princeton Junction at 2:25, but with actual arrival delayed until 2:31.  I was not the only Dinky-rider to see the shuttle rounding the bend in the parking lot on its way back to Princeton, just as we arrived-and exactly on its advertised scheduled departure:  2:31.

Of the 32 frustrated customers, 25 shared cabs back to the Dinky station. We others waited for 40 minutes for the shuttle to return for the 3:11 run back to the university.  Once, when I absolutely had to be in town on time, I myself took a taxi:  $18.00 without tip.

I questioned the conductor, a polite, if a bit officious man in impeccable uniform.  He informed me that the missed shuttle had carried a few passengers from the most recent train from Trenton and had been waiting at the Junction since 2:05.  The Dinky waited in town until its next departure to the Junction at 3:00.

Logically, the Dinky could have waited at the Junction until 2:53 and still arrived at the Princeton station seven minutes before its next scheduled return, inconveniencing only those riders already on the shuttle at 3:11-or made an additional (unscheduled) roundtrip.  The conductor explained that hewould be subject to discipline for failing to maintain schedule if he hadwaited, but he did point out that he had the authority to leave early when an "L" was shown on the schedule.  Only if his special schedule had an "H"(for hold) could he delay departure