life along on the R train?

It can definitely be slow to arrive on weekends. I've had a few irksome mornings watching the express trains zoom by and knowing I'm missing my connection while the R fails to rumble into sight.

On the other hand, depending where you are, some of the express trains run local in Brooklyn on weekend nights. So, for example, you can grab a D or an N, zoom over the bridge, and then get off at Union St, 9th St, etc - which would normally by bypassed when those trains go right to 36th St. But not knowing where you're going to be living, I'm not sure if that's useful info...

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 11:41 AM

It can definitely be slow to arrive on weekends. I've had a few irksome mornings watching the express trains zoom by and knowing I'm missing my connection while the R fails to rumble into sight.

On the other hand, depending where you are, some of the express trains run local in Brooklyn on weekend nights. So, for example, you can grab a D or an N, zoom over the bridge, and then get off at Union St, 9th St, etc - which would normally by bypassed when those trains go right to 36th St. But not knowing where you're going to be living, I'm not sure if that's useful info...

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 11:42 AM

Yeah, I find those express trains always running local when I want them express. Not only the weekends or evenings. My husband says it never happens when he's without me, so it's probably all my fault. Sorry.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 12:12 PM

What do you mean by "downtown"? Downtown brooklyn or downtown manhattan and if the latter is downtown below canal or just below 34th st?

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 12:21 PM

bhguy,

you mentioned the 25th st R stop; if in a real hurry just walk down to 36th and there you've got the D, N, R, (& M rush hour) trains, but I find the R is pretty dependable. and yes, the D & N express trains run local at night.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 1:23 PM

If your office is in lower Manhattan then it's not such a bad commute, but I'd hate to rely on the R for a commute further up into Manhattan. Had to do that for a few years and it sucked. It can be a long wait and not just on weekends.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 2:00 PM

What's good about the R, though, is that it connects to a plethora of trains at Atlantic/Pacific.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 2:29 PM

it depends on what you're used to. i used to live on the UES and got spoiled by the 4/5 which would come pretty much every 30 seconds at rush hour and quite frequently at other times. however, i do NOT miss the insane crowds and constant delays.

the MTA's trip planner (http://tripplanner.mta.info/) is a total life saver. just put in your origin/destination and time the time you want to leave/get there and it tells you the fastest way and what time to get to the station. in theory the subways run on a schedule, and actually during weekends they're pretty on-time because there is less congestion/door-holding/delays. you can save a lot of time that you might have wasted waiting on the platform and, especially on weekends and later at night, that can be a LOT of time. trust me, use it...it has changed my life.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 3:25 PM

So does practically every other train in Brooklyn 2:29.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 3:26 PM

it depends on what you're used to. i used to live on the UES and got spoiled by the 4/5 which would come pretty much every 30 seconds at rush hour and quite frequently at other times. however, i do NOT miss the insane crowds and constant delays.

the MTA's trip planner (http://tripplanner.mta.info/) is a total life saver. just put in your origin/destination and time the time you want to leave/get there and it tells you the fastest way and what time to get to the station. in theory the subways run on a schedule, and actually during weekends they're pretty on-time because there is less congestion/door-holding/delays. you can save a lot of time that you might have wasted waiting on the platform and, especially on weekends and later at night, that can be a LOT of time. trust me, use it...it has changed my life.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 3:33 PM

I get on the 25th st R, and find it pretty easy on weekends. Sometimes the wait is longer than I want, but never too bad, plus, once you're at Atlantic you can go almost anywhere. Also, since the D and N late night run on the R local line, getting home after being out in Manhattan is fairly easy, especially from the Village, Soho or the W. Village.

Posted by: guest at April 23, 2008 4:23 PM

A little late to the party on this one, but -- also note that the M runs along 4th ave north of 36 St at rush hours. So if you're connecting at Atlantic you've got trains coming twice as frequently to shuttle you there, plus if you work downtown, it's not a real long walk from the Broad St. M stop to the Rector St. R stop.

Posted by: guest at April 28, 2008 9:27 PM

A little late to the party on this one, but -- also note that the M runs along 4th ave north of 36 St at rush hours. So if you're connecting at Atlantic you've got trains coming twice as frequently to shuttle you there, plus if you work downtown, it's not a real long walk from the Broad St. M stop to the Rector St. R stop.

Posted by: guest at April 28, 2008 9:27 PM