ALL BUT ONE NJ TRANSIT RAIL LINES FULLY OR PARTIALLY RESTORED STARTING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Customers Encouraged to Visit njtransit.com For Latest Scheduling Information
November 16, 2012
Trenton, NJ –The Christie Administration announced today that all but one NJ TRANSIT rail lines will be running full or modified service effective Monday, November 19. This includes the restoration of service along the North Jersey Coast Line, which suffered the brunt of the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy.
Additionally, with the completion of repairs to a key Amtrak-owned electrical substation in Kearny that will generate additional power to the Northeast Corridor, NJ TRANSIT will be operating approximately 90 percent of its normal peak period service into New York Penn Station starting Monday morning. Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis Line trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction as a result of the additional rail capacity opened along the Northeast Corridor.
Updated schedules will be posted on njtransit.com by 3 p.m. Sunday, November 18.
“This is a major milestone in our continuing, post-Sandy recovery. The devastation wrought on the North Jersey Coast Line was the worst sustained throughout our system,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson. “While we are not out of the woods and the recovery process continues, the restoration of this critical rail service is a major step forward for the Garden State.”
The restoration of service on the North Jersey Coast Line completes the full or partial restoration of all NJ TRANSIT rail lines. More than 30 miles of North Jersey Coast Line track sustained severe damage during the storm, including extensive rail washouts (no ballast under the tracks) between South Amboy and Bay Head. The River Drawbridge over Raritan Bay was severely damaged following a collision between two tugboats in addition to a record storm surge. The Morgan Drawbridge in South Amboy also sustained severe damage following a record storm surge and the impact from recreational boats and a cargo container.
“The restoration of NJ TRANSIT’s rail lines within 18 days of Sandy is a tremendous credit to the commitment, professionalism and the dedication of our employees,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “In this time of Thanksgiving, I would like to specifically offer our thanks to our employees for their service, as well as to customers for their patience and understanding during this difficult time.”
Effective Monday, November 19, NJ TRANSIT rail service will operate as follows:
Restored Service
- Northeast Corridor: Service between Trenton and New York has been fully restored and will operate on a regular schedule.
- North Jersey Coast Line: Service between Long Branch and New York will operate on a regular schedule, except for selected trains that will be cancelled. Trip times will be approximately five minutes longer due to signal system limitations. Service between Bay Head and Long Branch will operate on a regular schedule, except for 2300-series trains to/from Hoboken that will be cancelled.
- Raritan Valley Line: Service between Raritan and Newark will continue to operate on a special schedule, with limited peak-period service between High Bridge and Newark.
- Atlantic City Line: Service has been fully restored and is operating on a regular schedule.
- Morris & Essex Lines: Midtown Direct service between Dover and New York will operate on a regular schedule. Shuttle trains between Summit and Hoboken will provide approximately hourly service to stations not served by Midtown Direct. Gladstone Branch service remains suspended until further notice. Customers may use free emergency shuttle bus/ferry service or shuttle bus to rail service from selected Gladstone Branch stations.
· Montclair-Boonton Lines: Midtown Direct service between Montclair State
University and New York will operate on a regular schedule. Limited shuttle
service between Hackettstown and Hoboken will operate on a special schedule.
- Pascack Valley Line: Service between Spring Valley and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
- Main/Bergen County Line: Service between Suffern and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
- Port Jervis Line: Service between Port Jervis and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
Also effective Monday, November 19, NJ TRANSIT will adjust and refine its emergency trans-Hudson transportation plan to most efficiently match the available bus, rail and ferry resources with the needs of state citizens.
Starting Monday, new bus shuttle-to-ferry service and bus shuttle-to-train service will operate from selected stations along the Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines to provide an alternate travel option for customers impacted by the ongoing suspension of Gladstone Branch train service.
In addition, bus shuttle/ferry services from several locations will no longer operate due to the restoration of NJ TRANSIT rail service near those locations.
New Gladstone Branch Bus Shuttle/Ferry Option (to Lower Manhattan)
- Starting Monday, November 19, free shuttle bus service will operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. between Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Lyons, Berkeley Heights and New Providence stations and Liberty State Park (LSP), where free ferry service is available between LSP and Battery Park (Lower Manhattan).
- Statue Cruise Lines ferry service to Battery Park will be offered free of charge.
- Free shuttle bus service will board customers from the following locations on the Gladstone Branch:
- Bernardsville – in the parking lot at the station
- Basking Ridge – on North Finely Avenue at Ridge Street
- Lyons – on South Finely Avenue at Cross Road
- Berkley Heights – at the station building on Sherman Avenue
- New Providence – on Springfield Avenue at Old Springfield Avenue
- Standard parking rules and fees are in effect at all rail station parking lots.
New Gladstone Branch Bus Shuttle to Train Option (to Midtown Manhattan)
- Starting Monday, November 19, free shuttle bus service will operate to meet trains departing from Summit on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and returning to Summit for trains departing Penn Station New York from 4 p.m. to 8:02 p.m. between Gladstone, Peapack, Far Hills, Millington, Gillette, Murray Hill and Summit stations, where customers will be able to connect with Morris & Essex Lines train service to/from Summit. (More detailed schedule information will be available on njtransit.com later today.)
- Free shuttle bus service will board customers from the following locations on the Gladstone Branch:
- Gladstone – in the parking lot at the station
- Peapack – on Main Street at Holland Avenue
- Far Hills – at the station building in the parking lot
- Millington – on Division Avenue at River Road
- Gillette – on Mountain Avenue at the station parking lot entrance
- Murray Hill – on Floral Avenue at the station parking lot exit
- Summit – on the eastbound side of the station on Railroad Avenue at Elm Street
- Standard parking rules and fees are in effect at all rail station parking lots.
NJ TRANSIT rail monthly passes will be honored for travel on special ferry service from Hoboken Terminal to Pier 79 on West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan, operated by BillyBey Ferry under the NY Waterway umbrella.
Discontinued bus shuttle/ferry services effective Monday, November 19
Effective Monday, November 19, the following bus shuttle/ferry options WILL NOT operate due to reduced customer demand:
Morris & Essex Lines
- Discontinued: Free express shuttle bus service between Morristown Station and Weehawken Ferry Terminal.
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service between Maplewood Station and LSP.
Montclair-Boonton Line
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service between Bay Street, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield stations and Weehawken Ferry Terminal.
North Jersey Coast Line
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service between Aberdeen-Matawan Station and LSP.
Northeast Corridor
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service between Metropark Station and LSP.
Meadowlands, MetLife Stadium, Lot P (1 MetLife Stadium):
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service from Meadowlands MetLife Stadium to Weehawken/Port Imperial.
- Discontinued: Free shuttle bus service from Weehawken/Port Imperial to the Meadowlands MetLife Stadium.
Available bus shuttle/ferry service options as of Monday, November 19
The bus shuttle/ferry services will operate weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. (inbound) and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (outbound) except the Liberty State Park shuttle - please see below for specific time. Bus shuttles will operate on a load-and-go basis every 10 minutes.
Hoboken Terminal to Midtown Manhattan
· NJ TRANSIT has teamed up with BillyBey Ferry which operates ferry service from Hoboken under the NY Waterway umbrella, to offer new, discounted, round trip service from Hoboken Terminal to Pier 79 on West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
· Customers using this service can also access free NY Waterway shuttle buses for further travel within Manhattan. Stops are offered along 57th Street, 49th Street, 42nd Street, and 34th Street, as well as through a special Downtown loop. Visit nywaterway.com for details.
· This ferry service does not normally operate between Hoboken Terminal and 39th Street in Manhattan. Customers wishing to access this new ferry service can purchase round-trip fare for $10. A special ticket booth at Hoboken Terminal has been established for customers starting on Monday.
Morris & Essex Lines
- Free shuttle bus service between Convent, Madison and Chatham stations and Liberty State Park (LSP). Free ferry service between LSP and Battery Park (Lower Manhattan).
- New Gladstone Branch services (see above).
- Standard parking rules and fees are in effect at all rail station parking lots.
Ramsey (Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station)
- Free shuttle bus service from Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station to Weehawken/Port Imperial for free ferry service to Pier 79 at 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan ONLY from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry connections.
- Free shuttle bus service from Weehawken/Port Imperial to Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holmdel, Garden State Parkway Exit 116 (PNC Arts Center)
- Academy Bus operating from the PNC Arts Center from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to:
- Port Authority Bus Terminal - Follow Signs to Parking
- Lower Manhattan - Follow Signs to Parking
- Newark Penn Station - Follow Signs to Parking
- Academy Bus operating between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. from:
- Lower Manhattan
- Port Authority Bus Terminal – Lower level from Gates 51-56.
- Newark Penn Station – Greyhound Bus Stop
- Emergency bus service to Lower Manhattan has been coordinated following the approval of, and collaboration with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey as well as the New York City Department of Transportation. Pick-up and drop-off locations will take place at the following, designated Suburban Transportation bus stops:
- Greenwich Street between Battery Place & Morris Street
- Trinity Place between Rector & Thames Streets
- Church St. between Warren & Chambers Streets
- Church St. between Reade & Duane Streets
Jersey City (HBLR's Liberty State Park Station)
· Free shuttle bus service between Hudson Bergen Light Rail's Liberty State Park Station and Statue Cruise Lines Ferry Service to Battery Park from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ferry service from this location will be offered free of charge.
· Hudson Waterfront customers can use the free bus shuttles from the Liberty State Park ferry site to the Liberty State Park Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) Station to continue to Jersey City, Hoboken and Weehawken on the HBLR. (NJ TRANSIT Rail and Bus November monthly passes will be cross-honored on the HBLR.)
The following footage is actual scenes of Hurricane Sandy battering NJ TRANSIT’s infrastructure: NJ TRANSIT Footage
Service Updates:
For the latest travel information, customers should listen to broadcast traffic reports, visit or access NJ TRANSIT’s Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT. Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system (www.njtransit.com/mytransit), which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager. Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.