MTA Staten Island Railway

i had the misfortune of using this railway at night (8PM) going from Princes Bay to the ferry terminal. This was truly a grubby, unpleasant experience,
The train interior was dirty and the passengers were worse: The roughest of the rough poor-​white trash. — the kind you would not want to meet in a dark alley.
In my car was a loud, crass group smoking. Then another small group was drinking alcohol.
But the most disgusting was a young couple who bounced through the door and started to engage in oral sex! I was finally able to escape to another car.
Police supervision is needed for this runaway train of Staten Island low-​lifes.
If I ever had to use this train again at night I would travel in the first car right behind the conductor to feel safe.

Very reliable service. The most on time service within the entire MTA organization. Free service between Stapleton & Tottenville. Regular NYC transit fare with metrocard at St. George and Tompkinsville Stations.

As part of the MTA system the SIR is just another subway line (it’s elevated). Unfortunately it’s only one line that runs the length of Staten Island so it’s only slightly helpful in getting where you need to be, it’s a quick way to get down the east side of the island though.
One thing worth mentioning is that this line is completely free if you’re not using the last stop by the ferry terminal. All the stops aren’t «stations» as much as they are just platforms with a set of stairs. Once you get on/​off at the St George Stop you swipe your metro card and pay. If you just get on/​off at the next stop (Tompkinsville) half a mile away you can bypass the couple buck fair. If you do swipe your card, and take the ferry into Manhattan, you’ll get a free transfer if you get onto a bus/​subway once you get into the city.

Yet again the train skipped my stop (Stapleton), blaring its horn and speeding right on by on it’s way to the ferry, because it was behind schedule. Stupid train. Now I gotta wait another 30 minutes before the next one comes around, and it better not skip my station again. I might end up just having to rely on the buses after all cause these trains just aren’t cutting it lately.

Could be worse… but it’s always struck me as kind of crazy that there’s just the one line running down one side of Staten Island. (Supposedly, at the time it was built, too many homeowners on Staten Island blocked it from crossing their property, so only the one line could be built.) Sure, there are connecting buses that cover most of the island, but they’re slow as hell because the nature of all the roads on Staten Island is to meander aimlessly. There are no «caterpillar» double-​length buses on S.I. because even in good weather they’d probably get stuck.
The SIR (used to be called the Staten Island Rapid Transit, or SIRT, of the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, or SIRTOA) is basically an above-​ground subway; my friend who’s lived there over 20 years has taken it about once, that’s how useful it is. Still, I decided the other day to take it from the ferry terminal rather than the bus I usually take, and it was a better deal, timewise.
The train runs express on weekdays during «rush» hours – rush hours on Staten Island? Please! – in the mornings and evenings. I’ll probably take it next time I go to Staten Island.

I never did like the MTA. I wonder if they still chase graff writers…

Almost always on time unless bad weather or things on the track. On weekdays it comes every half-​hour and on weekends, every hour. It costs no money to get on and takes you to the ferry. For commuters going to the city and who do not want to take the express (expensive) bus, this is a great alternative. Just keep in mind it is not the warmest place during summer, or the coolest spot in summer. Your trip can also vary in pleasantness depending on who is riding with you. Commuters are usually quiet and polite, whereas students and young kids can be rather annoying. Also during the late night drunk people can be a nuisance. Your trip really depends on the people who surround you. Overall it is an invaluable asset to me and any other city commuter.

The trains are scheduled to meet the ferry. That’s why they’re not that frequent. Until recently, people circumvented the fare by getting off at Tompkinsville and walking to the ferry. The MTA added turnstiles to Tompkinsville. I liked the cars better when the seats were orange, not the current grayish blue color. A few hoodlums act rowdy. They get on at the intermediate stops. When the train runs express, it goes very fast. The train is a lot cheaper than the express bus, but it’s not as comfortable.

Its a waste, Takes you to the garbage boat, stop being cheap and take an express bus direct, you would probably get there quicker.
G H E T T O Staten Island Trash

As a kid, this provided my way around to friends near and far. As an adult, it served as fast and easy transit from late nights in the city. FREE unless used to go to the ferry? Best deal ever.

saved us from the oh never appearing bus that was supposed to take us into the city.
Note: my very first time in staten island, this 3 hour trip (waiting for the bus for 45 minutes) running to the railway (waiting for the rail) and then riding the ferry was a big reason I realized I never wanted to move to NY…
but this rail still saved us!

btw, the SIR just started collecting fares the Tompkinsville Station (the next one after St George’s), which to me sounds great. of course, this makes commuters spend more money being in the system — but i think it’s high time that all stations collect (very reasonable) fare to pay for the whole system. i’m actually looking forward to seeing more lines of the railway/​subway built in this island – the current absence of which makes this island look ridiculous and badly different from the rest of the boroughs…

Negatives: just one line running every half hour (at least on weekends), kind of run-​down, aging equipment, run-​down stations.
Positives: FREE (except a $ 2 exit fee at the Staten Island Ferry station).
If it weren’t free, I’d give it 2 or 3 stars.

A complete joke.
Runs from the ferry through the south shore all the way into Tottenville.
What about the North «more urban» shore? C’mon, it’s like only having a train on the the east side of Manhattan.
Effed again by the almighty MTA.

Journey from one tip of the Island to the other.
The one and only train is both reliable and worthy. It runs on the ferry schedule which is available online, FYI.
If you take it to the ferry it will cost you $ 2, which includes a free transfer to either a subway or bus once you get to Manhattan. If you disembark before the ferry… guess what? NO CHARGE. What the frack is better than that?
If there was actually a train/​subway system… with different lines, well I suppose that would be better, and would earn itself a fifth star for sure.
I just happen to live 2 blocks from the train. I like to hear them go by. Not too close, just close enough for it to somehow sound romantic.