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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Friends and college students Jordan Cuevas, Michael Brown and Jordan West take the train to New York City occasionally, and liked the idea of the designated quiet cars so they can get class assignments done on the way.
"I think it's a good idea," said Jordan Cuevas, 18, of Rye Brook, who goes to the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and returns home to meet up with friends once in a while. "It will be a big help."
The MTA recently announced its "Quiet CALMmute" cars. About 31 trains on the Hudson and Harlem lines will have designated quiet cars on some trains during peak hours. The schedule will designate such trains with a "Q."
The pilot program begins on Monday, Oct. 17.
Marjorie Anders, spokesperson for the MTA, said that commuters have wanted a quiet space to ride, and that previous success with other trains led to the idea.
"The railroad has been watching Amtrak's very successful implementation of quiet cars," Anders said. "Then Metro North did its own pilot west of Hudson. It just seems like the march of progress to begin east of Hudson."
The last car on the designated trains will become a quiet car during the morning peak hours, while the first car will be designated a quiet car during the evening peak hours.
The MTA encourages passengers on these cars to not use their cell phones and to silence their computers and other electronic devices. Riders should also speak quietly and lower the volume on their headphones so other passengers cannot hear the sounds or music.
Conductors on these trains will distribute as needed special "Shhhhhh" cards that explain the guidelines for the quiet cars in both English and Spanish.
Cuevas' friend Brown, who goes to Iona College also supports introducing quiet trains.
"It will be nice to have a space where we can get work done," Brown said.
Do you ride the MTA? What do you think of having quiet cars?
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