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Yesterday I got into work an hour late, largely because a train signal somewhere outside Secaucus or Penn Station (I think Secaucus) had frozen to death. Amtrak, which runs Penn Station, wasn't about to take chances with that, so four or more NJ Transit trains heading for NYC were diverted to Hoboken. The passengers would have their NJ Transit passes/tickets honoured by the PATH train personnel- PATH is a small subway with a limited route, and is the only non-ferry, non-car route from Hoboken to New York City. It is very, very popular as a consequence, and at rush hour it is even more popular. Popular, of course, meaning crowded.
Now imagine an already crowded subway line being made to carry four more trains' worth of rush-hour commuters than it is really prepared for...
We could have done with some Japanese guys in white gloves to fill the trains a bit more densely, but I'm not sure how much difference it would have made in the end. Those trains were well and truly packed, to the point where people didn't need to hold onto poles or bars to keep from falling over when the train stopped or went around a curve. So packed, in fact, that a quiet little voice in my head said, "This is exactly the kind of situation that a terrorist would be looking for as a target of opportunity."
(In my defence, there are signs all over the bloody NJ Transit and PATH stations saying 'if you see something, say something' and 'unattended bags MIGHT BE BOMBS OMG OMG OMG TELL SOMEBODY QUICK!!!'. Including one hanging right outside where I got on the PATH.)
The terrorist comment was shortly followed by, "Even if it wasn't a terrorist incident, would it even be possible to get all these people to safety if a fire or other incident broke out while this train was between stations?"
At which point the long-suffering voice of Reason in my head came out and stifled the other one with the following set of points:
1. It's not going to happen.
2. If you keep bringing up these points one of them is going to get said aloud.
3. Schenck vs. United States. "Fire in a crowded theatre." SAME THING.
4. So shut up.
And, for once, the voice of nasty little thoughts did.
Must remember to pack flashlight along in future, though, just in case. It'll be handy anyway- the NJ Transit train interior lights have a distressing tendency to go out when I'm trying to write John boggling at the Sorting Hat...
Now imagine an already crowded subway line being made to carry four more trains' worth of rush-hour commuters than it is really prepared for...
We could have done with some Japanese guys in white gloves to fill the trains a bit more densely, but I'm not sure how much difference it would have made in the end. Those trains were well and truly packed, to the point where people didn't need to hold onto poles or bars to keep from falling over when the train stopped or went around a curve. So packed, in fact, that a quiet little voice in my head said, "This is exactly the kind of situation that a terrorist would be looking for as a target of opportunity."
(In my defence, there are signs all over the bloody NJ Transit and PATH stations saying 'if you see something, say something' and 'unattended bags MIGHT BE BOMBS OMG OMG OMG TELL SOMEBODY QUICK!!!'. Including one hanging right outside where I got on the PATH.)
The terrorist comment was shortly followed by, "Even if it wasn't a terrorist incident, would it even be possible to get all these people to safety if a fire or other incident broke out while this train was between stations?"
At which point the long-suffering voice of Reason in my head came out and stifled the other one with the following set of points:
1. It's not going to happen.
2. If you keep bringing up these points one of them is going to get said aloud.
3. Schenck vs. United States. "Fire in a crowded theatre." SAME THING.
4. So shut up.
And, for once, the voice of nasty little thoughts did.
Must remember to pack flashlight along in future, though, just in case. It'll be handy anyway- the NJ Transit train interior lights have a distressing tendency to go out when I'm trying to write John boggling at the Sorting Hat...
