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Four NJ Transit Rail Lines to Re-Open Sunday Morning

The Main/Port Jervis line will resume limited service Sunday morning, originating and terminating in Secaucus.

  • November 3, 2012
 

NJ Transit will resume service on four more rail lines Sunday morning, including the Main/Port Jervis and North Jersey Coast lines, the governor's office announced Saturday night.

Also starting service will be the Raritan Valley and Atlantic City lines.

With the Hoboken terminal having sustained significant flood damage in Monday's storm, the Main/Port Jervis line trains will start and end in Secaucus.

The Main Line will run from Suffern to Secaucus making all local stops, while the Port Jervis line will run from Port Jervis to Secaucus making all local stops via Main Line. Service between Secaucus and Hoboken remains suspended.

Secaucus Junction, while open, has limited elevator and escalator service due to persisting power problems and is not currently ADA accessible.

The Bergen, Pascack Valley and Essex lines, which suffered significant rail infrastructure damage during the storm, remain suspended 

For customer's convenience, October monthly passes will remain valid until Friday, Nov. 9.

Details below from NJTransit:

  • Northeast Corridor: Remains in service between Trenton Transit Center and New York Penn Station, with the exception of service to Jersey Avenue.  Service continues to operate on a special schedule.
  • North Jersey Coast Line: On Sunday, November 4, service will resume between Woodbridge and New York Penn Station, with the exception of Avenel.  Service will operate on a weekend schedule.
    Rail service between Bay Head and Woodbridge remains suspended. An assessment of rail infrastructure has revealed significant damage across the system, including:
    • Morgan Drawbridge in South Amboy sustained damage from boats and a trailer that collided into the bridge.
    • There are wires and trees down, as well as rail washouts (no ballast under the tracks), between South Amboy and Bay Head.
  • Main/Port Jervis Line:  On Sunday, November 4, service will resume operating on a special schedule.  The Main Line will operate from Suffern to Secaucus making all local stops.  The Port Jervis Line will operate from Port Jervis to Secaucus making all local stops via Main Line.  Service between Secaucus and Hoboken remains suspended until further notice.
  • Raritan Valley Line: On Sunday, November 4, service will resume between Raritan and Newark Penn Station only, operating on weekend schedule. On Monday, November 5, service will resume between Raritan and Newark Penn Station only, operating on special schedule. Rail service between High Bridge and Raritan remains suspended
  • Atlantic City Line:  On Sunday, November 4, service will resume operating on a Sunday schedule on November 4 and weekday schedule on November 5.
  • Bergen Line, Pascack Valley Line, Montclair-Boonton Line and the Morris & Essex Lines: Service remains suspended. An assessment of rail infrastructure has revealed significant damage across the system, including:
    • There is major damage due to downed trees between Summit and Millburn, as well as in Denville and Morristown. There is also overhead wire damage, including signal wires, with support poles down in Lyons and Bernardsville. In addition, rail washouts (no ballast under the tracks) occurred at Kearny Junction, where Midtown Direct service connects to the Northeast Corridor. Rail washouts also occurred at several tracks in Hoboken Terminal and at Netcong Station.
    • Elsewhere on the rail system, local power outages have prevented NJ TRANSIT rail operations from being able to further test crossing gates and operating signals. In addition, hundreds of downed trees have fallen across the rail system, which have caused damage to overhead wires and signal wires. Several rail stations have sustained flood damage, including Hoboken Terminal.
Related Topics: Hurricane Sandy, NJ Transit, NJ transit main line, nj transit bergen line, nj transit port jervis line, and nj transit service restored

Peter Sweeney

9:55 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012

Njt shouldn't need crews from Alabama to help them. They should have the supplies and know how to replace every part on their rail line. This is either horrifically poor planning or an excuse for failure to execute. Either way we dwarves better.

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Steve Marinaccio

8:45 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Peter Do you have any idea what happened to NJ? This is similar to a nuclear bomb in many areas. nothing could have prepared anyone for this.

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David Steketee

8:55 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

So, you would have NJ Transit be fully staffed 365 days / yr to handle an extreme scenario like this? Do you realize the overhead that would require? Let's say it requires a skill level of 3/10 to do most common repairs. The repairs they currently have to perform require a skill level of 9/10. They may have a few people with this skill level, but there's no need to be fully staffed with everyone at this skill level. It's just too costly.

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Peggy

1:49 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Mr. Sweeney, Look at this slideshow from NJ Transit to get an idea of just what happened to our rail system and you'll see why they can't be 100% up and running. http://www.njtransit.com/var/var_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=HurricaneSandyTo

Peter Sweeney

9:57 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012

Dwarves deserve better auto spells

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mark

7:40 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Peter did you see the mass damage that occurred on the rails? I'd like to see you fix them. Until then, cut the derogatory comments. Nj transit unlike jcpl and pseg are working 24 /7 on fixing the issues with getting commuters riding the trains again. Maybe we should hire them to get power to residents that haven't had power since Monday! Bet you there would be power to all by now! These people are truly hard working individuals, not sitting around watching each other drinking coffee and bullshitting. Appreciate what you have!

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PandP

7:41 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

When is NJTransit going to give the people that normally take the Morris and Essex Line into either NYC or Hoboken, more information on the train situation? 'Suspended until further notice' is not acceptable information. So many rely on this train service and there are 100s of people that take the train each day. How are we all going to commute to the city?
Are they going to set up a temporary bus line between Maplewood and NYC? How long before trains are back in business?
Come on NJTransit, more information please....

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A Duncan

10:43 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I agree with Sean, NJ Transit has left all commuters in the dark (no pun intended) as to what alternatives there are to get to our jobs in Manhattan. Could they not in almost 5 days arrange for fleets of buses direct to city, or at least to jitney/ shuttles to Newark Penn for transfer to NEC trains to NYC?

Amy

7:44 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Do you have any information about NJT alternate bus service for Millburn/Short Hills residents to get to NYC? There is absolutely nothing posted on their website. It would be a great help if you could get your hands on and broadcast this information. If anyone has the info can you share relevant link?

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Iris Engelson

11:21 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I called NJT this morning about the reverse commute (NYC->Millburn) and they suggested 107 bus NYC->Irvington and 70 bus Irvington->Millburn (Millburn Ave & Main St). They claim both buses are running on normal schedules.

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PandP

11:50 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Just note the 107 bus is going to be PACKED. There are 100s if not a few 1000 commutes that leave from Maplewood/SO/Millburn/ShortHills each day to the City.

Does anyone know if the Kearny Junction (that was destroyed) impacts trains to/from Hoboken? I think it likely that the Kearny Junction Fix will take some time, but if it doesn't affect travel to Hoboken (and they can get the Hoboken train station up and running), maybe that will be the way to go in the near future....

Until then, NJT will have to put out more buses from the various communities along the M&E line....

mark

7:48 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

There are rails that are litteraly lifted and moved. Rail cars that are on there sides. Broken track, throughout the railroad. It takes time to fix these issues. Special equipment needs to be brought in. Unlike just cutting trees and running wires like jcpl is taking there good old sweet time with, this takes cutting rail, bringing machines in to do this, dragging new rail in and having the machine align it up , while crews fuse new to old rail. It takes time. They are working at there utmost hardest to get us all up and running. Patience and everyone will be happy.

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mark

7:50 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Don't forget trees that ripped down power lines. There's nothing more in mind that transit wants, then to get its passengers moving on time again.

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sam schmidt

8:27 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Patieece is needed but so is information. How do we get to downtown Manhattan? Will busses replace the Morris/Essex line?

Sam

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PandP

8:29 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I certainly understand the situation in terms of damage and my comment is more regarding information about alternative plans to commute.
If it is gong to take time to restore service then fine - let us have information on contingency plans to commute.
Driving in to NYC is not an option for me and I'm sure a lot of people. We all cannot take the limited bus service that is available now besides there is too many people that would need to be accommodated.

My question is more about what is NJTRANSIT's contingency plan

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Carlos Ulises Decena

8:33 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Hi Sam: lack of information is perhaps the most challenging part of the problem, depending on what town you live in. if you are in South Orange, the 107 bus will take you into the city, but we figured this out by getting ourselves to the train station on Thursday. I called the police to ask if there was a plan in place then, and the man with whom I spoke curtly replied that this was unprecedented and that there was no plan, but we knew from last year that a bus ran. So I'd recommend you check out the bus lines that may be running out of your town into the city at the njtransit website. Chances are there is a bus that will get you there. Good luck.

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Terry Hubbard

9:01 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I believe NJ Transit is working hard, but more information would be nice. Rough estimates from NJTransit would be great ... it's it a week or a month or longer before they think service can be restored? I'm sure they can assess the damage to provide some estimates. And the 1000 or more people waiting are just tryng to make alternate plans. Since there does not seem to be alternate busing available close to the Morris/Essex Line, then carpooling is an option. I was thinking of putting up list at the station if you are interested in carpooling ... Anyone interested?

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Piglet Home

9:16 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

If jitneys could take maplewood-penn commuters to the bus station this would solve our commuting problem until train line is back!

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I Sechzer

9:30 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I am in maplewood. I have been driving to west orange and taking the Coach bus from the arena parking deck next to the zoo. Works well

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Cary Africk

9:31 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Compared to NJ Transit, PSEG is the Great Communicator! And here we have the local "politcos" meeting with PSEG and threatening to rip their heads off, but NJ Transit? Not a peep!

The Council used to have an excellent relationship with NJ Transit. Indeed, their PR person LIVES in Montclair! I attended joint meetings with Transit when I was on the Council, and our Transportation Committee worked together with them on joint projects.

WHY is no one even TALKING to transit?

Thousands of residents commute to NYC. It is their livelihood! There's some RUMORS about buses, but WHERE is the information??

If I were to "guess," based on downed wires, etc. I'd say we're looking at 2 to 4 weeks.

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Terry Hubbard

10:05 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I live in Madison ... when I look for buses to NY Penn I get a list of 4 buses I would have to transfer to to get there. Anyone have information on what is the most direct bus to NY Penn from Madison?

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Julie Erickson

10:23 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Jitneys going to Newark, West Orange zoo, some place with buses and trains would be really helpful!

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Terry Hubbard

10:25 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thanks for the tip on the Coach Line ... this looks like a great alternative.

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m.jones

10:42 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I've always taken the train into NYC. I'm trying to get info on taking a bus from Morristown for tomorrow, Monday. Any info from anyone???

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PandP

11:09 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

There is the COACH bus line that runs buses from Morristown, Livingston and West Orange. It will probably be very crowded now that more and more people are finding out about it.....

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Russ

11:28 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012

does anyone know if the Coach line from Codey Arena is cross-honoring NJT rail passes? It is so incredibly frustrating that NJT can't even offer this level of info.

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Susan

2:57 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012

There is no info at all that is worthwhile for commuters on the Morris and Essex Lines - especially for those who depend on the train to get to and from work and who don't drive! The expected service outage is weeks at best. Please let us know as soon as possible of any alternatives. Driving here and there with the gas shortage just exacerbates the situation when temporary bus service could be running from the train stations.

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Karma Police

10:39 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012

in NYC when subway lines are out, the MTA runs shuttle buses that stop at most if not all of the stops to deliver passengers with minimal disruption. why NJ transit isn't doing this, i will never understand.

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