LIMITED SERVICE RESTORED ON MONTCLAIR BOONTON LINES

November 13, 2012

Trenton, NJ – NJ TRANSIT announced that limited New York and Hoboken service would resume on the Montclair-Boonton lines, effective Wednesday morning. Special schedules detailing this limited service can be accessed by visiting njtransit.com after 6 p.m. this evening.

The limited service will operate in the peak periods between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. as follows:

One train to Penn Station New York per hour.
One train to Hoboken Terminal per hour.

During the off-peak, service will also operate on a limited basis due to single-track operations. These off-peak trains will make stops between Penn Station New York and Montclair State University. Details can also be found on the special schedules located at njtransit.com.

“The restoration of limited Montclair-Boonton service to New York and Hoboken is another step forward for NJ TRANSIT rail customers,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson. “We ask that customers be mindful that our rail service into New York Penn remains limited. Customers are encouraged our to try NJ TRANSIT’s emergency bus and ferry operations for their commutes into Jersey City, Weehawken, as well as into Midtown and Lower Manhattan.”

As part of the latest restoration phase involving the Montclair-Boonton Lines, specialized NJ TRANSIT rail crews including electric traction workers; maintenance-of-way staff and signal maintainers were dispatched to support the restoration plan. These crews removed fallen trees, replaced signal wires and power systems, and also repaired rail damage incurred at critical locations. Testing of the Montclair-Boonton tracks, switches, and both power and signal systems were completed today.

“Our workers continue to make incredible progress, and today’s announcement is a credit to their hard work, expertise and dedication to our customers,” said James Weinstein, NJ TRANSIT’s Executive Director. “NJ TRANSIT is committed to keeping our customers on the move, and would encourage our customers to use our emergency bus and ferry services. We are grateful to our customers for their continued understanding, support and patience as we continue to work around the clock to restore service.”

To access the most up to date information customers are encouraged to:

Log on to njtransit.com
Sign up for my transit alerts via the website
Follow twitter handle @nj_transit
Follow us on Facebook at NJ TRANSIT
Call NJ TRANSIT’s customer service line at 973-275-5555
Listen to traffic news reports

On Sunday evening, AMTRAK completed testing of the north Hudson River tunnel, which had been out of service following flooding sustained during Hurricane Sandy. The reopening of the north Hudson River tunnel has permitted the operation of additional service into New York, however, flood damage to AMTRAK’s power supply has substantially limited rail capacity for NJ TRANSIT along on the Northeast Corridor. Eighty percent of NJ TRANSIT customers travel on trains that touch this portion of the Northeast Corridor.

AMTRAK has continued to keep NJ TRANSIT apprised of their ongoing power restoration efforts along the Northeast Corridor. Demonstrated by the restoration of partial service along many of NJ TRANSIT’s rail lines, NJ TRANSIT looks forward to resuming additional service into New York following the completion of AMTRAK’s repairs to their power substation, including additional MidTOWN DIRECT service.

To assist customers with travel into Manhattan NJ TRANSIT has implemented an extensive, wide-reaching emergency bus and ferry plan. This plan, which can be accessed at njtransit.com, includes a map of available, no-cost bus and ferry options from points within Central and Northern New Jersey. NJ TRANSIT customers who normally utilize commuter rail service utilizing the Northeast Corridor for service are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these free bus and ferry services for travel into Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City and into Manhattan.

Additionally, and to alleviate some of the congestion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and to give customers traveling to Midtown Manhattan additional travel options, NJ TRANSIT has also teamed up with BillyBey Ferry which operates ferry service from Hoboken under the New York Waterway umbrella, to offer 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, with stops offered along 57th Street, 49th Street, 42nd Street, and 34th Street, as well as through a special Downtown loop.

SERVICE TO MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

Discounted, special ferry service from Hoboken Terminal to 39^th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Free express shuttle bus service between Morristown Station and Weehawken Ferry Terminal from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between Weehawken and Pier 79 at West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan
Free shuttle bus service between Bay Street, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield stations and Weehawken Ferry Terminal from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between Weehawken and Pier 79 at West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus service from Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station to Weehawken/Port Imperial from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service to Pier 79 at 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus service from Meadowlands MetLife Stadium to Weehawken/Port Imperial from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between Weehawken and Pier 79 at West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.

SERVICE TO LOWER MANHATTAN

Free shuttle bus service between Convent, Madison and Chatham stations and Liberty State Park (LSP) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between LSP and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus service between Maplewood Station and Liberty State Park (LSP) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between LSP and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus service between Aberdeen-Matawan Station and Liberty State Park (LSP) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between LSP and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus service between Metropark Station and Liberty State Park (LSP) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to free ferry service between LSP and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
Free shuttle bus from the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to Lower Manhattan (departs from northbound lot).

With all but one of NJ TRANSIT’s main rail arteries running normal or limited service tomorrow, the following is a status update on system restoration efforts:

Restored Service

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.
Main/Bergen/Port Jervis Lines: Limited service on the Bergen Line resumes tomorrow morning on a special schedule, with service originating and concluding in Hoboken, with no service to Secaucus Junction until further notice. Main/Port Jervis customers were previously operating on a special schedule. Hoboken-bound customers can access bus, ferry and light rail services directly from Hoboken Terminal.
Pascack Valley Line: Limited service resumes tomorrow morning on a special schedule, with service originating and concluding in Hoboken, with no service to Secaucus Junction until further notice. Hoboken-bound customers can access bus, ferry and light rail services directly from Hoboken Terminal.
Raritan Valley Line: Limited service will resume tomorrow between High Bridge and Raritan. All Raritan Valley service will continue to operate on a special schedule.
Atlantic City Line: Service has been fully restored and is operating on a regular schedule.
Morris & Essex Lines: Morristown and Summit branch service has resumed limited operations on a special schedule. Limited MidTOWN Direct service has also resumed. Service on the Gladstone Branch will remain suspended until further notice due to ongoing recovery efforts. Hoboken customers can access bus, ferry and light rail services from Hoboken Terminal.
Montclair-Boonton Lines: Starting tomorrow, Montclair-Boonton service will resume limited service to Hoboken, operating on a special schedule. MidTOWN Direct-Montclair service will also resume limited operations. Hoboken customers can access bus, ferry and light rail services from Hoboken Terminal.

Suspended Service

North Jersey Coast Line: Rail service between Bay Head and Woodbridge remains suspended. An assessment of rail infrastructure has revealed significant damage across the system, including the River Drawbridge over Raritan Bay as well as the Morgan Drawbridge in South Amboy. There are also extensive rail washouts (no ballast under the tracks), between South Amboy and Bay Head. North Jersey Coast Line customers are encouraged to utilize NJ TRANSIT’s free emergency bus and ferry services, which can be accessed from the Aberdeen-Matawan station as well as at the PNC Arts Center.

A number of rail stations throughout the system may have limited lighting and no elevator and escalator service due to power problems as a result of Hurricane Sandy. As a result, Secaucus Junction will not be ADA accessible until further notice. Customers are urged to use caution in and around all rail stations.

NJ TRANSIT encourages customers to travel outside of the morning and afternoon peak periods to avoid delays and crowding.

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.