103-611: The Atlantic City Bus Terminal is a regional bus station and a major stop for New Jersey Transit buses in Atlantic City , New Jersey . Located at the 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue, the station is now only half its original size, as part of it was carved out for a Polo Ralph Lauren store along the Atlantic City Outlets The Walk . The terminal contains vending machines, restrooms, a seating area, and ticket offices for New Jersey Transit. Opened in 1997,
206-597: A contract with Metro-North Railroad . The New Jersey Transit Police Department (NJTPD) is the transit police agency of NJ Transit. New Jersey Transit Police operates under the authority of Chapter 27 of the NJ Revised Statutes. Title 27:25-15.1 states in part "The Transit Police Officers so appointed shall have general authority, without limitation, to exercise police powers and duties, as provided by law for police officers and law enforcement officers, in all criminal and traffic matters at all times throughout
309-744: A desire to avoid maintaining deteriorating lines, SEPTA cut various services throughout the 1980s. R3 West Chester service was truncated to Elwyn on September 19, 1986, due to unsatisfactory track beyond. R6 Ivy Ridge service was truncated to Cynwyd on May 17, 1986, due to concerns about the Manayunk Bridge over the Schuylkill River . Service to Cynwyd ended altogether in 1988, but fierce political pressure brought resumed service. R8 diesel service between Fox Chase and Newtown ended on January 14, 1983, after SEPTA decided not to repair failing diesel train equipment . The service
412-565: A distance of 7.3 miles (11.7 km), began. The project was delayed by a lack of environmental permits to clear the roadbed between Lake Lackawanna and Andover. Based on projections from NJ Transit, the restart of construction, including extensive work on Roseville Tunnel , was to occur in mid- to late-2016, with the re-opening of service to Andover projected to occur in 2020. The proposed rehabilitation west of Andover, which has not yet been funded, would provide commuter rail service between Hoboken Terminal and New York's Penn Station, and would serve
515-604: A frequency of 25 Hz. The system on the former PRR side is owned and operated by Amtrak , part of the electrification of the Northeast Corridor. The electrification on the Reading side is owned by SEPTA . The Amtrak system was originally built by the PRR between 1915 and 1938. The SEPTA-owned system was originally built by the Reading starting in 1931. The two systems are not electrically connected. After construction of
618-582: A major line involved hearings before the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the predecessor to the Surface Transportation Board , which moved at a glacial pace and was capricious in the matter of approval, requiring one railroad to continue operating a local train on a route covered by four other trains while allowing another to discontinue a well-patronized train that had no competing lines. In response,
721-827: A new rail junction at Secaucus, allowing for a one-train ride between the Port Jervis , Main , Bergen County , Pascack Valley, and Raritan Valley lines and New York Penn Station. The Lehigh and the West Trenton extension plans would require added capacity and the ARC project would provide that capacity. The project broke ground in June 2009. Both the Federal Transit Administration and the Port Authority made public commitments of $ 3 billion to
824-677: A new station at Newark Liberty International Airport . On December 15, 2003, it opened the Secaucus Junction transfer station, connecting its two commuter networks in northern New Jersey for the first time. The new station allowed passengers on trains to Hoboken Terminal to transfer to trains to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan , saving an estimated 15 minutes over connecting with PATH trains at Hoboken. On October 31, 2005, NJT took over Clocker (NY–Philadelphia) service from Amtrak. Four new trains were added to
927-475: A new, higher lift bridge . The West Trenton Line is a proposed service connecting West Trenton Station with Newark Penn Station , connecting with the Raritan Valley Line at Bridgewater . As of 2004, NJT's estimate of the cost was $ 197 million. To date, no funding has been secured. Service ran on the line prior to 1983. The West Shore Route is a proposal to reactivate passenger service on
1030-506: A state agency operated as a leg of its corresponding Department of Transportation, SEPTA is not a state agency and is beholden primarily to the five local governments which comprise it. Williams questioned why there has never been any massive public push to force SEPTA to "clean up its act." He concluded that the crisis within SEPTA "merely reflects the broader problems of local provincialism and petty political squabbles which are so rampant within
1133-418: A typical weekday, with 45% from the three Center City stations and Temple University station. SEPTA uses a mixed fleet of General Electric and Hyundai Rotem " Silverliner " electric multiple unit (EMU) cars, used on all Regional Rail lines. SEPTA also uses push-pull equipment: coaches built by Bombardier , hauled by ACS-64 electric locomotives similar to those used by Amtrak . The push-pull equipment
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#17327974947571236-491: A waiting room, as well as a 600-car parking garage. The station is expected to see 500 commuters on a typical weekday, as it will sit next to U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and serve the nearby corporate headquarters of convenience store chain Wawa. Bus service will connect the station to Painters Crossing and Concordville, Pennsylvania. Between 1979 and 1983, diesel locomotives were phased out. With insufficient operating funds and
1339-400: Is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the U.S. state of New Jersey and portions of the states of New York and Pennsylvania . It operates buses , light rail , and commuter rail services throughout the state, connecting to major commercial and employment centers both within the state and in its two adjacent major cities, New York City and Philadelphia . In 2023,
1442-428: Is an underground connection between PRR and Reading lines; previously, PRR commuter trains terminated at Suburban Station and Reading at Reading Terminal. The connection converted Suburban Station into a through-station and rerouted Reading trains down a steep incline and into a tunnel that turns sharply west near the new Market East Station (now Jefferson Station). The conversion was meant to increase efficiency and reduce
1545-548: Is compatible with the power supplies on both the ex-PRR (Amtrak-supplied) and ex-Reading (SEPTA-supplied) sides of the system; the "phase break" is at the northern entrance to the Center City commuter tunnel between Jefferson Station and Temple University Station . SEPTA has five major yards and facilities for the storage and maintenance of regional rail trains: SEPTA was created to prevent passenger railroads and other mass transit services from disappearing or shrinking in
1648-672: Is no longer pursuing the Newark–Elizabeth Rail Link. The airport has a monorail link to NJT's Northeast Corridor Line and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor , both of which run to both Newark and Elizabeth. SEPTA Regional Rail The SEPTA Regional Rail system ( reporting marks SEPA , SPAX ) is a commuter rail network owned by SEPTA and serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area . The system has 13 branches and more than 150 active stations in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , its suburbs and satellite towns and cities . It
1751-832: Is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ; the PATCO Speedline , which is owned by the Delaware River Port Authority ; two SEPTA Regional Rail lines, the West Trenton Line and the Trenton Line ; and a handful of tourist trains in the southern and northwestern parts of New Jersey. Since inception, rail ridership has quadrupled. In the 1990s the rail system expanded, with new Midtown Direct service to New York City and new equipment. On October 21, 2001, it opened
1854-727: Is the sixth-busiest commuter railroad in the United States. In 2016, the Regional Rail system had an average of 132,000 daily riders and 118,800 daily riders as of 2019. The core of the Regional Rail system is the Center City Commuter Connection , a tunnel linking three Center City stations: the above-ground upper level of 30th Street Station , the underground Suburban Station , and Jefferson Station . All trains stop at these Center City stations; most also stop at Temple University station on
1957-533: Is the official mark for their revenue equipment, though it is rarely seen on external markings. SPAX can be seen on non-revenue work equipment, including boxcars, diesel locomotives, and other rolling stock. The Silverliner coaches were first built by Budd in Philadelphia and used by the PRR in 1958 as a prototype intercity EMU alternative to the GG1 -hauled trains. Similarly designed cars were purchased in 1963 as
2060-471: Is the only one continuing to cut and cut and cut. The only difference between SEPTA and its railroad and transit predecessors is that SEPTA eliminates services to avoid rebuilding assets, while its predecessors (PRR, Reading and Conrail) kept service running while deferring maintenance." On November 16, 1984, the Columbia Avenue (now Cecil B. Moore Avenue) bridge near old Temple University Station
2163-529: Is used primarily for peak express service because it accelerates slower than EMU equipment, making it less suitable for local service with close station spacing and frequent stops and starts. As of 2012, all cars have a blended red-and-blue SEPTA window logo and "ditch lights" that flash at grade crossings and when "deadheading" through stations, as required by Amtrak for operations on the Northeast and Keystone Corridors . SEPTA's railroad reporting mark SEPA
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#17327974947572266-624: The COVID-19 pandemic . An environmental assessment was published in February 2021, and it is now in the design and engineering phase. The project is projected to be operational by 2028. Bus rapid transit in New Jersey includes limited stop bus lines, exclusive bus lanes (XBL) and bus bypass shoulders (BBS). Next Generation Bus is the term used by NJT to refer to the development of numerous bus rapid transit (BRT) systems across
2369-669: The Erie Lackawanna last provided with the Lake Cities in 1970. At the time of the Cut-Off's construction, the DL&;W had extensive experience with concrete construction, but not on the scale that would be employed on the Cut-Off. All structures, including stations, bridges, interlocking towers and two large viaducts and thousands of fence posts, were made of concrete. Despite the lack of maintenance on these structures over
2472-532: The Federal Transit Administration has issued a Finding of No Significance Impact ( FONSI ). Preliminary engineering began in 2018. The new station will be a contributing factor to the $ 180 million urban renewal project of Bayfront . There is also a project to improve Route 440 itself near the rail extension. As of 2020, the project is still ongoing after upgrades were made to West Side Avenue Station In May 2001, New Jersey acquired
2575-627: The Henry Hudson Rail Trail ). NJT is still planning to study all the routes as to not delay action further on the EIS, and says all three routes are still up for evaluation, although it will take the Governor's comments into consideration. In late May 2009 representatives of the three counties agreed to back one potential route from Ocean County to Red Bank, instead of to Monmouth Junction, ending years of stalemate. Under that compromise,
2678-605: The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail in North Bergen . The project is currently in its initial study phase. The Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line is a proposed south and central New Jersey commuter rail route to New Brunswick , Newark and New York's Penn Station. This would restore service previously provided by the Central Railroad of New Jersey with similar station sequences. Prior to 1941 cancellation
2781-610: The Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey . These cities were last served in 1967. NJT intended to construct a new two-track Hudson River tunnel adjacent to the two single-track Northeast Corridor tunnels built in the early 20th century by the Pennsylvania Railroad . NJT referred to the project as Access to the Region's Core , which would have used dual-power locomotives and
2884-549: The Media/Wawa Line , which previously ran to West Chester. On August 21, 2022, service was restored to Wawa Station, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the Elwyn station. The project included new track, catenary, signals, and communications equipment; and new structures, including a new station at Wawa with a large park and ride facility. The Wawa Station is ADA-compliant with high platforms, a ticket office, ticket vending machines, and
2987-553: The Northeast Corridor through a series of phases. It will create new capacity that will allow the doubling of passenger trains running under the Hudson River . The program will increase track, tunnel, bridge, and station capacity, eventually creating four mainline tracks between Newark, NJ, and Penn Station , New York, including a new, two-track Hudson River tunnel. It is being undertaken in partnership with Amtrak,
3090-411: The "Reading" side. This connection was never built, leading (among other factors) to the following changes: One of the assumptions in this plan was that ridership would increase after the connection was open. Instead, ridership dropped after the 1983 strike. While recent rises in oil prices have resulted in increased rail ridership for daily commuters, many off-peak trains run with few riders. Pairing up
3193-466: The 1970s, all of which originated from Reading Terminal. The Allentown via Bethlehem , Quakertown , and Lansdale service was gradually cut back. Allentown–Bethlehem service ended in 1979, Bethlehem-Quakertown service ended July 1, 1981, and Quakertown–Lansdale service ended July 27, 1981. Pottsville line service to Pottsville via Reading and Norristown , also ended July 27, 1981. West Trenton service previously ran to Newark Penn Station ; this
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3296-524: The Airport Line, was once paired with a former Reading line and numbered from R1 to R8 (except for R4), so that one route number described two lines, one on the PRR side and one on the Reading side. This was ultimately deemed more confusing than helpful, so on July 25, 2010, SEPTA dropped the R-number and color-coded route designators and changed dispatching patterns so fewer trains follow both sides of
3399-676: The CNJ operated Blue Comet trains (Jersey City-Atlantic City) and some local trains on this route. The line was originally proposed by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders in March 1980. It would run on a 40.1-mile rail corridor and would provide diesel commuter rail service from Monmouth Junction ( South Brunswick ), where the Jamesburg Branch partially joins the Northeast Corridor (NEC), south to Lakehurst in
3502-549: The Center City Commuter Connection, the two electrical systems now meet near Girard Avenue at a “phase break,” a short section of unpowered track, which trains coast across. The gap is necessary because the two electrical systems are not kept in synchronization with each other. The entire system uses 12 kV / 25 Hz overhead catenary lines that were erected by the PRR and Reading railroads between 1915 and 1938. All current SEPTA equipment
3605-665: The Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line on January 14, 1983, as personnel were paid higher salaries for traveling a considerable distance to operate trains based in Newtown. SEPTA, however, settled with the transit union shortly before its strike deadline, a move that rail unions took as a betrayal. The rail unions had hoped that with both the railroads and City Transit shut down, the unions could extract whatever settlement they desired. The railroad strike lasted 108 days, and service did not resume until July 3, 1983, when
3708-589: The NEC between Monmouth Junction and Newark. Passengers for New York would transfer at Newark. Eight new stations and a train storage yard would be constructed. In mid-February 2008, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine withdrew the Monmouth Junction alignment from the MOM Plan. Corzine opted to endorse the two remaining alternate alignments (via Red Bank or Matawan-Freehold, the latter which is currently part of
3811-747: The New Jersey-New York section of the West Shore Railroad from Hoboken, NJ to West Nyack, NY. The project has been included in the NJ Transit's portion of the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the fiscal years of 2016–2019. The route holds perhaps the greatest promise in all of New Jersey since it travels through
3914-763: The North River Tunnels in service, which would cause a massive reduction in rail service. As of 2018, the final design was completed and it is being advanced through the U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER grant. The project is partnered with the FRA , PANYNJ , NJ Transit and Amtrak, all of which have provided a total funding of $ 86.5 million. This project will extend the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail from North Bergen in Hudson County to Englewood in Bergen County . The extension will better meet
4017-462: The PRR and Reading to continue commuter rail services in the Philadelphia region. The PRR and Reading operated both passenger and freight trains along their tracks in the Philadelphia region. Starting in 1915, both companies electrified their busiest lines to improve the efficiency of their passenger service. They used an overhead catenary trolley wire energized at 11,000 volts single-phase alternating current at 25 Hertz (Hz). The PRR electrified
4120-636: The PRR's northeast corridor to New York City. Subsequently, the city purchased new trains. The success of the PSIC subsidy program resulted in its expanding throughout the five-county suburban area under the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Compact (SEPACT) in 1962. In 1966, SEPTA began contracts with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Company to subsidize their commuter lines. Still,
4223-718: The Paoli line in 1915, the Chestnut Hill West line in 1918, and the Media/West Chester and Wilmington lines in 1928. Both railroads continued electrifying lines into the 1930s, replacing trains pulled by steam locomotives with electric multiple unit cars and locomotives. PRR electrification reached Trenton and Norristown in 1930. Reading began electrified operation in 1931 to West Trenton, Hatboro (extended to Warminster in 1974) and Doylestown; and in 1933 to Chestnut Hill East and Norristown. The notable exception
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4326-472: The Pennsylvania and Reading trains had terminated in their respective terminals. Besides making transfers difficult, this led to congestion and reduced capacity. With the opening of the tunnel, Pennsylvania trains would run through the tunnel on to matched Reading lines, and vice versa. This would reduce congestion at the downtown stations, as very few trains would terminate or originate at them, and reduce
4429-498: The Philadelphia and Reading lines with an urban tunnel was first adopted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission in 1960, under the leadership of Edmund Bacon . Such a tunnel would improve the connectivity of the network. The tunnel was constructed between 1976 and 1984 at a cost of $ 330 million. As part of the tunnel project SEPTA implemented a diametrical mode of operation. Heretofore
4532-520: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the State of New Jersey , and the State of New York . This project will replace the existing century-old swing-span bridge with a new, fixed-span bridge over the Hackensack River . The current bridge causes train traffic and delays due to maritime traffic, as well as malfunctions occurring from opening and closing; the new bridge will eliminate
4635-513: The R3 and R4 would short turn at Wayne Junction or Suburban Station (as would some R7 trains), which cut against the diametrical principle. To correct this, Vuchich proposed the construction of a connection in the Swampoodle neighborhood between the ex-Pennsylvania Chestnut Hill West Line and the ex-Reading trunk line west of Wayne Junction as part of Stage 2, moving the Chestnut Hill West line to
4738-564: The Reading and PRR to subsidize service on both Chestnut Hill branches. This was not enough to reverse the deterioration of the railroad infrastructure. By 1960, the PSIC assisted with services reaching as far as the city border in all directions. PSIC subsidized trains to Manayunk on the PRR's Schuylkill Branch to Shawmont on the Reading Norristown line, to Fox Chase on the Reading Newtown line, and as far as Torresdale on
4841-475: The Reading lines and the heavily patronized PRR Paoli line . Full service was gradually restored over the next several weeks. The unions then surprised SEPTA on March 15, 1983, by going on strike, still without contracts, in an action timed to coincide with an expected City Transit Division strike. At the time, the City Transit Division was chafing at SEPTA for discontinuing diesel service on
4944-826: The Silverliner II, in 1967 as the Silverliner III, and the Silverliner IV in 1973. The Silverliner V, a more modern version of the railcar was introduced in 2010. A total of 120 cars were purchased for $ 274 million, and they were constructed in facilities located in South Philadelphia and South Korea by Hyundai Rotem . The cars were built with wider seats and quarter point doors for easier boarding or departing at high-level stations in Center City. The Silverliner V cars represent one-third of SEPTA's regional rail fleet. In late 2014, and
5047-531: The State and, in addition, to enforce such rules and regulations as the corporation shall adopt and deem appropriate." One of the primary responsibilities of NJ Transit Police is to provide police services and security to the hundreds of bus terminals, rail stations, light-rail stations and all other property owned, operated and leased by NJ Transit throughout the state. The Department employs approximately 250 sworn police officers. This project will expand and restore
5150-773: The United States. At its northern end in Camden, it will connect with the River Line, with which its infrastructure and vehicles will be compatible. At the northern terminus, the Walter Rand Transportation Center , paid transfers will be possible to the PATCO Speedline . The project's goal is to improve mobility and connect towns in Gloucester and Camden counties. The project was originally expected to be completed by 2019, but faced construction delays due to local pushback, lack of funding, and later
5253-412: The auxiliary power cables, traction power, and signal and communication devices along the HBLR that were affected by Hurricane Sandy was in the works. Repairs to Hoboken Terminal are said to be complete by 2020. Numerous power line, power system, and flood protection systems were in progress or completed at numerous terminals and stations. The 110-year old Raritan Bay Drawbridge is said to be replaced by
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#17327974947575356-465: The bankrupt PRR and Reading railroads, including the commuter rail operations. Conrail provided commuter rail services under contract to SEPTA until January 1, 1983, when SEPTA assumed operations. The Regional Rail SEPTA inherited from Conrail and its predecessor railroads was almost entirely run with electric-powered multiple unit cars and locomotives. However, Conrail (the Reading before 1976) operated four SEPTA-branded routes under contract throughout
5459-634: The beginning of early 2015, SEPTA began the "Rebuilding for the Future" campaign that will replace all deteriorated rolling stock and rail lines with new, modernized, equipment, including ACS-64 locomotives, bi-level cars, and better signaling. The ACS-64 locomotives for push-pull trains arrived in 2018. SEPTA passenger rolling stock includes: Unit 304 repainted to Conrail heritage livery. Unit 276 repainted to Pennsylvania Railroad heritage livery. Unit 401 repainted to Penn Central heritage livery. All lines used by SEPTA are electrified with overhead catenary supplying alternating current at 12 kV with
5562-639: The bus terminal replaced the Atlantic City Union Station where buses have been stopping since 1964, which then ceased usage of passenger trains. The old Union Station was demolished in 1997 when the bus terminal was opened. Until late October 2022, Greyhound Bus Lines also served the terminal. The Atlantic City Convention Center and Rail Terminal is located three blocks away. 39°21′36″N 74°26′06″W / 39.359912°N 74.434929°W / 39.359912; -74.434929 New Jersey Transit New Jersey Transit Corporation , branded as NJ Transit or NJTransit and often shortened to NJT ,
5665-471: The campus of Temple University in North Philadelphia . Operations are handled by the SEPTA Railroad Division . Of the 13 branches, six were originally owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) (later Penn Central ), six by the Reading Company , while one was constructed under SEPTA in 1985. The PRR lines terminated at Suburban Station; the Reading lines at Reading Terminal . The Center City Commuter Connection opened in November 1984 to unite
5768-407: The check-in counters in departures. In 1990, R5 service was extended from Downingtown to Coatesville and Parkesburg. However, on November 10, 1996, R5 service to Parkesburg was truncated to Downingtown. In 2006, SEPTA started negotiations with Wawa Food Markets to purchase land in Wawa, Pennsylvania to build a new Park-and-Ride facility for a planned restoration of service between Elwyn and Wawa on
5871-478: The end of 2019. As of December 2022, the project is still in its design phase, and NJT was given a $ 600K federal grant to study transit-oriented development along the proposed extension. This project will extend Hudson-Bergen Light Rail access in Jersey City . It will extend service from West Side Avenue Station by 0.7 miles (1.1 km) of new rail to a new terminus on the west side of Route 440 . An environmental assessment has been prepared by NJ Transit, and
5974-399: The era. Commuter service requires large amounts of equipment, large numbers of employees to operate equipment and station sites, and large amounts of maintenance on track that see extremely heavy usage for only six hours a day, five days a week. Meanwhile, the rise in automobile ownership and the building of the Interstate Highway System chipped away at the steady patronage as population in
6077-501: The former R-numbering system for SEPTA, said he had never seen a city the size of Philadelphia "cut transit services quite as drastically as SEPTA. For a system that is already obsolete, any more cutbacks would be disastrous—and likely spell doom for transit in the Philadelphia region. This city would be the first in the world to do that." DVARP said that SEPTA purposely truncated service and that while other commuter railroad counterparts "in North America expand their rail services, SEPTA
6180-576: The future. The leadership of the municipalities along the route have been organizing for decades to get service running again and have been rezoning the areas around the former train stations ever since being told by NJ Transit that the number of projected riders is too low to justify investment. The Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project would reintroduce passenger service on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway right-of-way in Passaic , Bergen and Hudson counties between Hawthorne and Hackensack , as well as extending service to connect to
6283-959: The general public and three State officials. The two non-voting members are "recommended by labor organizations representing the plurality of employees". The Governor has veto power on decisions made by the board. NJT splits its operations into three classes: bus, light rail, and commuter rail, operated by four legal businesses: NJ Transit Bus Operations, Inc. , subsidiaries NJ Transit Mercer, Inc. and NJ Transit Morris, Inc. , and NJ Transit Rail Operations, Inc. . NJT Bus Operations operates 253 bus routes using 2,221 buses. Its subsidiaries NJ Transit Mercer and NJ Transit Morris operate those routes concentrated in Trenton and Monmouth and Morris counties. Additional buses are also leased out to several private New Jersey operators, including Coach USA , Lakeland , Transbridge Lines , and Academy . NJT operates three light rail systems: NJT operates thirteen commuter rail lines, two of which are operated under
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#17327974947576386-404: The growing exurban communities in Monroe County, Pennsylvania , the Pocono Mountains , northern Warren County , and southern Sussex County in New Jersey. In October 2015, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requested that a preliminary engineering study be performed in order to update the cost figures on the previous study. Funding for this study is currently being sought. As of 2023,
6489-420: The heart of NJ Transit Bus Operations' Midtown "commuter shed", with four bus routes (165, 167, 168 & 177) running well beyond capacity. Issues regarding the restart of commuter rail service include: With these considerable technical issues, as well as no available space in New York Penn Station for West Shore Line trains, this proposal was put on hold until capacity into New York Penn Station will increase in
6592-535: The interior of northern Ocean County . As of 2006, the line was opposed by Jamesburg and Monroe Township. From Monmouth Junction the line would continue southeast to Jamesburg , Monroe , Englishtown , Manalapan , Freehold Borough , Freehold Township , Howell and Farmingdale . A new rail connection would be required in Farmingdale. It would proceed southward from Farmingdale to Lakehurst, passing through Howell, Lakewood , Jackson , Toms River , Townships, and Lakehurst/ Manchester . Trains would also operate on
6695-521: The largest being those operated by the state's largest electric company, Public Service Electric and Gas Company . It gradually acquired most of the state's bus services. In northern New Jersey, many of the bus routes are arranged in a web. In southern New Jersey, most routes are arranged in a "spoke-and-hub" fashion, with routes emanating from Trenton , Camden , and Atlantic City . In 1983, NJT assumed operation of all commuter rail service in New Jersey from Conrail , which had been formed in 1976 through
6798-425: The last holdout union agreed to a contract to settle from the other rail unions. In the end, SEPTA would treat the rail unions workers as railroad workers rather than transit operators, but their pay scale remains lower than that of other Northeast commuter railroads, such as NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road . The strike resulted in lower ridership, which took over 10 years to rebuild. The idea of linking
6901-405: The line's southern terminus would be in Lakehurst, and it would run through Lakewood along existing freight tracks to join the North Jersey Coast Line in Red Bank. It also includes the possibility of a spur between Freehold and Farmingdale. In August 2010, NJT received $ 534,375 in Federal Funds to investigate the possibilities of a MOM line. Since that time there has been no further advancement of
7004-409: The merging of a number of financially troubled railroads. Conrail had operated two extensive commuter railroad networks in northern New Jersey under contract to NJDOT; in turn, these lines were the successors of numerous commuter routes dating from the mid-19th century. NJT now operates every passenger and commuter rail line in the state except for Amtrak ; the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH), which
7107-462: The most inept of all the major transit agencies, though getting a handle on what exactly was the cause of its ills was historically difficult. Railpace Newsmagazine contributor Gerry Williams commented that understanding what routinely transpires in SEPTA upper management rarely made itself clearly known to the general public. Frequently, there were various hidden agendas working in the background, often working at cross purposes with one another. This
7210-437: The movable span, thus improving reliability and increasing train speeds. The project is partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ Transit, Amtrak, and United States Department of Transportation , with funding provided by NJ Transit, Amtrak , and the Federal Railroad Administration . This project will entail the design and construction of a new Hudson River rail tunnel serving Penn Station, New York, and
7313-401: The needs of travelers in the area, advance cost-effective transit solutions, improve regional mobility and access, reduce roadway congestion, and attract growth and development. There have been several public hearings so far, and the project has received the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Environmental Protection Agency . The final EIS was expected to be completed by
7416-472: The new year. SEPTA had spent most of December 1982 preparing riders for the likelihood of no train service come the new year. Even with the unions' offers to continue working, SEPTA insisted that a brief shutdown of service would still be necessary, arguing that it would not know until the eleventh hour how many Conrail employees would actually come to work for SEPTA. In addition, SEPTA claimed that these employees would have to be qualified to work on portions of
7519-511: The number of potential passenger transfers as each train reached more destinations. The original plan for the system was made by University of Pennsylvania professor Vukan Vuchic , based on the S-Bahn commuter rail systems in Germany . Numbers were assigned to the Pennsylvania lines in order from south (Airport) to northeast (Trenton); the Reading line matches were chosen to balance ridership,
7622-418: The number of tracks needed. On April 28, 1985, the Airport Line opened, providing service from Suburban Station via 30th Street Station to Philadelphia International Airport . This line runs along Amtrak's NEC, then crosses over onto Reading tracks that pass close to the airport. At the airport, a new bridge carries it over Interstate 95 and into the airport terminals between the baggage claim in arrivals and
7725-646: The original service patterns were introduced, the following termini changed: On July 25, 2010, the R-numbering system was dropped and each branch was named after its primary outer terminals. The 1980s and 1990s were difficult times for SEPTA. While the agency has spent most of its 50-year history staggering from crisis to crisis, the 1980s were a particularly low point. The era was defined by crippling strikes, engineer shortages, drastic service cuts and an abundance of mismanagement. State and local officials, commuters, and general observers were quick to brand SEPTA as
7828-525: The past four decades (and in some cases much longer), most are still in operational or near-operational condition. A 2009 study by NJT estimated that bringing the line back into operation to Scranton, Pennsylvania , would cost approximately $ 551 million, although service may be extended in several interim phases before reaching Scranton. In 2011, the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project from Port Morris to Andover ,
7931-443: The physical characteristics of the lines, and the location of yards. An additional consideration was avoiding crossovers on the trunk lines. and to attempt to avoid trains running full on one side and then running mostly empty on the other. Vuchic recommended seven lines: Stage 1, which represented the state of affairs when the tunnel opened in 1984, was hampered by an "imbalance" between the Pennsylvania lines and Reading lines. Both
8034-795: The project. The inertia is partially attributed to the cancellation of the Access to the Region's Core project. In November 2008, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), along with both Lehigh and Northampton counties, commissioned a study to explore extending the Raritan Valley Line to the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, which would potentially include stops in Allentown , Bethlehem and Easton . This would resume passenger service previously provided jointly by
8137-543: The project. However, the project was suspended on October 7, 2010, due to concerns that the State of New Jersey would be solely responsible for projected $ 5 billion in overruns. On October 27, 2010, Governor Chris Christie made a final decision to cancel the project. Amtrak later unveiled the Gateway Project , which addresses some of the issues ARC was meant to resolve. Planned to connect Downtown Newark and Elizabeth via Newark Liberty International Airport , NJT
8240-440: The projected completion date for Andover service is 2027, with work at Roseville Tunnel and Andover, NJ ongoing. There is a possibility of Amtrak extending service from New York City to Scranton, PA via the Cut-Off, but no official commitment for that service has been made to date. The Glassboro–Camden Line is an 18-mile (28.97 km) diesel multiple unit (DMU) light rail system planned for southwestern part of New Jersey in
8343-499: The rail lines based on ridership is less relevant today than it was when the system was implemented. At a later time, R1 was applied to the former Reading side, shared with the R2 and R5 lines to Glenside station , and R3 to Jenkintown , and R1-Airport trains ran to Glenside station rather than becoming R3 trains to West Trenton. In later years, SEPTA became more flexible in order to cope with differences in ridership on various lines. After
8446-519: The railroads made commuting unpleasant for passengers by neglecting the upkeep of equipment. Faced with the possible loss of commuter service, local business interests, politicians, and the railroad unions in Philadelphia pushed for limited government subsidization. In 1958, the city enacted the Philadelphia Passenger Service Improvement Corporation (PSIC), which consisted of a partnership with
8549-482: The region. Passenger rail service was previously provided by for-profit companies, but by the 1960s the profitability had eroded, not least because huge growth of automobile use over the previous 30 years had reduced ridership. SEPTA's creation provided government subsidies to such operations and thus kept them from closing down. For the railroads, at first it was a matter of paying the existing railroad companies to continue passenger service. In 1966 SEPTA had contracts with
8652-405: The region." Williams later commented that "unfortunately, there does not seem to be any group out there influential enough to bring shame on SEPTA, and SEPTA just may be beyond shaming anyway." Service to Reading Terminal ended on November 6, 1984, in anticipation of the opening of the Center City Commuter Connection , which opened on November 12, 1984. The tunnel, first proposed in the 1950s,
8755-415: The rehabilitation and modernization of the existing North River Tunnels , which incurred serious and ongoing damage during Hurricane Sandy. The tunnel was flooded with millions of gallons of saltwater during Hurricane Sandy, causing corrosion that continues to damage the century-old tunnel. It plans to build a new tunnel, rather than close and renovate the existing tunnel, as doing so would leave only one of
8858-646: The right-of-way of the Lackawanna Cut-Off . Constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad between 1908 and 1911, this provided a direct route with minimal curves and grades between Slateford Junction , two miles (3.25 km) below the Delaware Water Gap , and the crest of the watershed at Lake Hopatcong ( Port Morris Junction ), the connection with NJT's Montclair-Boonton Line . This would restore long-distance service that
8961-904: The same route. Former Pennsylvania Railroad lines Former Reading Company lines [REDACTED] There are 154 active stations on the Regional Rail system (as of 2016), including 51 in the city of Philadelphia , 42 in Montgomery County , 29 in Delaware County , 16 in Bucks County , 10 in Chester County , and six outside the state of Pennsylvania (two in Mercer County, New Jersey and four in New Castle County , Delaware ). In 2003, passengers boarding in Philadelphia accounted for 61% of trips on
9064-505: The schedule, but cut back to Trenton. During Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the rail operations center of NJ Transit was flooded by 8 feet (2.4 m) of water and an emergency generator submerged. Floodwater damaged at least 65 locomotive engines and 257 rail cars. The Governor of New Jersey appoints a thirteen-member Board of Directors, consisting of eleven voting and two non-voting members. The voting members consist of eight from
9167-459: The state which are being studied by the agency, NJDOT , the metropolitan planning organizations of New Jersey (MPO), and contract bus carriers. In 2011, NJT announced that it would equip its entire bus fleet with real-time location , creating the basis for "next bus" scheduling information at bus shelters and web-enabled devices and considered an important feature of BRT. As of 2018, there are several projects in progress. A project to replace
9270-576: The subsidies could not save the big railroads. The PRR attempted to stay solvent by merging with the New York Central Railroad on February 1, 1968, but the resulting company, Penn Central , went bankrupt on June 21, 1970. The Reading filed for bankruptcy in 1971. Between 1974 and 1976, SEPTA ordered and accepted the delivery of the Silverliner IVs. In 1976, Conrail took over the railroad-related assets and operations of
9373-511: The suburbs grew. When the Philadelphia suburbs were small towns, people lived close enough to a train station to walk to and from the trains. When the suburbs expanded into what had been fields and pastures, the trip to the station required an automobile, leading commuters to remain in their cars and drive all the way into the city as a matter of convenience. Both railroads shed a few minor money-losing routes, but more major pruning efforts ran into public opposition and government regulation. Ending
9476-422: The system had a ridership of 209,259,800. Covering a service area of 5,325 square miles (13,790 km ), NJT is the largest statewide public transit system and the third-largest provider of bus, rail, and light rail transit by ridership in the United States. NJT also acts as a purchasing agency for many private operators in the state; in particular, buses to serve routes not served by the transit agency. NJT
9579-534: The system unfamiliar to them. A lawyer who regularly commuted from Newtown on the Fox Chase Rapid Transit line filed a class action lawsuit against SEPTA to force the agency to keep trains running. The judge who heard the case, while agreeing that SEPTA probably would not be able initially to operate a full schedule, ordered the agency to keep as much train service running as possible. This resulted in limited service after January 1, 1983 on all
9682-538: The two systems, turning the two terminal stations into through-stations. Reading Terminal was replaced by the newly built underground Market East Station (now Jefferson Station). Most inbound trains from one line continue on as outbound trains on another line. Some trains, including all trains on the Cynwyd Line , terminate on one of the stub-end tracks at Suburban Station . Service on most lines operates from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. Each former PRR line, as well as
9785-584: Was a turbulent one. SEPTA attempted to impose lower transit (bus and subway driver's) pay scales and work rules, which was met by resistance by the BLE (an experiment was already in place on the diesel-only Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line , which used City Transit Division employees instead of traditional railroad employees as a bargaining chip). As the January 1, 1983 deadline approached, the unions stated they agreed to work even if new union contracts were not in place by
9888-564: Was cut back to West Trenton on July 1, 1981, with replacement New Jersey Transit connecting service continuing until December 1982. The final service, Fox Chase-Newtown service, initially ended on July 1, 1981. It was re-established on October 5, 1981, as the Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line , which then ended on January 14, 1983. Most train equipment was either Budd Rail Diesel Cars , or locomotive-hauled push-pull trains with former Reading FP7s . The diesel equipment
9991-469: Was found to be unsafe, putting all four tracks out of service north of Market East Station. In December 1984, a temporary bridge opened, allowing service to resume north of Market East Station. Nonetheless, the results of decades of deferred maintenance on the Reading Viaduct between the Center City Commuter Connection and Wayne Junction continued to threaten the right-of-way. In 1992, the bridge
10094-581: Was founded on July 17, 1979, an offspring of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), mandated by the state government to address many then-pressing transportation problems. It came into being with the passage of the Public Transportation Act of 1979 to "acquire, operate, and contract for transportation service in the public interest." NJT originally acquired and managed a number of private bus services, one of
10197-470: Was initially terminated on July 1, 1981 (along with diesel services to Allentown and Pottsville) and reinstated on October 5, 1981, using operators from the city transit division. This experimental Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line caused a rift in unions within the organization, adding to the March 1983 strike that lasted 108 days. SEPTA management was criticized for the cuts. Vukan Vuchic, the transit expert and University of Pennsylvania professor who designed
10300-515: Was maintained at the Reading Company/Conrail owned Reading Shops , in Reading, PA. The services were phased out due to a number of reasons that included lack of ridership, a lack of funding outside the five-county area, withdrawal of Conrail as a contract carrier, a small pool of aging equipment that needed replacement, and a lack of SEPTA-owned diesel maintenance infrastructure. The death knell for any resumption of diesel service
10403-507: Was often the result of the city (Philadelphia)/Suburban (Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery) split. The city government had historically been Democratic, the four suburban counties Republican until 2019, when all four suburban counties elected Democratic leadership. This factor is regularly influenced by the changing political winds at the state capital in Harrisburg. In addition, unlike all other U.S. railroad commuter agencies which are
10506-523: Was the Center City Commuter Connection tunnel project, which lacks the necessary ventilation for exhaust-producing locomotives. Service from Cynwyd was extended to a new high-level station at Ivy Ridge in 1980, and the 52nd Street Station closed in the same year. The transition from Conrail to SEPTA, overseen by General Manager David L. Gunn (who later became President of the New York City Transit Authority and Amtrak ),
10609-414: Was the line to Newtown, the Reading's only suburban route not electrified. While the PRR expanded electrification throughout the northeast (ultimately stretching from Washington, D.C. to New York City ), the Reading never expanded electric lines beyond the Philadelphia commuter district. By the late 1950s, commuter service had become a drag on profitability for the PRR and Reading, like most railroads of
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