CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES HUDSON-BERGEN LIGHT RAIL INCREASING WEEKDAY EVENING CAPACITY
Two-car train service extended later into the evening to double capacity between 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
September 3, 2013
NJT-13-068
NEWARK, NJ — Starting this week, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail customers traveling during the busy evening period will have a more comfortable ride, thanks to 12 trains that are now operating with two cars instead of one, doubling seating capacity on these trips in response to customer feedback as part of NJ TRANSIT’s Scorecard initiative.
“We’ve heard from Hudson-Bergen Light Rail customers that additional capacity on weekday evening trains is a top priority, and we want them to know that we are taking action to address their needs,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “By converting several single-car trains to doubles during the evening, we can keep pace with the line’s growing ridership while improving the overall customer experience on our system.”
Effective Tuesday, September 3, NJ TRANSIT extended the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s two-car service on the Bayonne-Hoboken branch and West Side Avenue-Tonnelle Avenue branch to include 12 additional weekday evening trips. Trips that will now operate as two-car trains instead of one are as follows:
Bayonne-Hoboken Service
- From Bayonne:
- 8:09 p.m. departure
- 8:39 p.m. departure
- 9:09 p.m. departure
- From Hoboken:
- 9:05 p.m. departure
- 9:35 p.m. departure
- 10:05 p.m. departure
West Side Avenue-Tonnelle Avenue Service
- From West Side Avenue:
- 7:26 p.m. departure
- 7:56 p.m. departure
- 8:26 p.m. departure
- From Tonnelle Avenue:
- 8:10 p.m. departure
- 8:40 p.m. departure
- 9:10 p.m. departure
Since the launch of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in 2000, ridership on the line has grown steadily. In the past seven years alone, passenger trips have doubled to more than 45,000 per day. In June, July and August of this year, passenger trips averaged nearly 48,000 per day.
About Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail provides more than 45,000 weekday trips between 24 stations in Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. The system provides a vital link between waterfront destinations, NJ TRANSIT rail and bus routes, PATH trains and trans-Hudson ferry services.
The one-way adult fare on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is $2.10. Discounted unlimited monthly passes are available for $64. Children, senior citizens and passengers with disabilities save 50 percent or more at all times. In addition, NJ TRANSIT customers holding a monthly or weekly rail pass, or a bus pass for two or more zones, can ride the system at no additional charge simply by displaying their pass.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail opened in April 2000, connecting 12 stations along the first seven miles of the system—from 34th Street in Bayonne and West Side Avenue to Exchange Place. Later that year, additional stations were opened at Pavonia/Newport, Harborside Financial Center and Harsimus Cove.
In September 2002, NJ TRANSIT opened the Hoboken Terminal light rail station, providing intermodal connections to commuter rail, trans-Hudson ferry, PATH and bus service. The 22nd Street Station in Bayonne opened in November 2003, followed by the expansion of service north to 2nd Street and 9th Street in Hoboken and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken in September 2004. NJ TRANSIT opened its northernmost stations—Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen and Bergenline Avenue in Union City—in February 2006, which also marked the start of full service to Port Imperial Station in Weehawken.
In January 2011, NJ TRANSIT launched service on a one-mile extension from the previous southern terminus at 22nd Street to a new 8th Street Station in Bayonne.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 261 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 61 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.