LIMITED SERVICE TO RESUME MONDAY ON MORRIS & ESSEX LINES AND MIDTOWN DIRECT SERVICE

Customers strongly encouraged to use emergency bus/ferry services for trans-Hudson access into Manhattan

November 11, 2012

Newark, NJ –This evening, NJ TRANSIT announced that limited service would resume Monday morning on the Morris & Essex lines, including limited MidTOWN Direct – Morristown service. MidTOWN Direct – Gladstone and Montclair remain out of service. Additionally, limited service will also continue on the Northeast Corridor for service into New York Penn Station. Special schedules detailing this limited service can be accessed by visiting njtransit.com.

“The restoration of limited Morris & Essex service and the addition of more trains on the Northeast Corridor is yet another step forward for NJ TRANSIT rail customers,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson. “Even with this news, service into New York Penn remains extremely limited. For this reason, we continue to encourage our customers to utilize NJ TRANSIT’s emergency bus and ferry operations for their commutes into Jersey City, Weehawken, as well as into Midtown and Lower Manhattan.”

This evening, AMTRAK completed testing of the north Hudson River tunnel, which had been out of service following flooding sustained during Hurricane Sandy. While the reopening of this tunnel will permit the operation of additional service into New York, flood damage to AMTRAK’s Sub 41 power generation facility in Kearny has substantially limited rail capacity on the Northeast Corridor. With the restoration of this substation expected to continue into the coming weeks, rail service into and out of New York Penn Station will continue to remain limited. Substation 41 is a major supplier of electricity to the Northeast Corridor’s overhead wire system.

“Our crews have been working around the clock to increase the level of service into New York and as a result we're offering expanded service starting tomorrow morning,” said James Weinstein, NJ TRANSIT’s Executive Director. “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for our customers to continue utilizing our emergency bus and ferry services as we try to keep them on the move. I want to thank all of our customers for their continued patience and understanding during this difficult time.”

NJ TRANSIT has implemented an extensive, wide-reaching emergency bus and ferry plan to help relieve congestion along the Northeast Corridor. 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. With full restoration of Northeast Corridor service not expected for several weeks and service to remain limited on the Northeast Corridor until that time, 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.

As part of the latest restoration phase involving the Morris & Essex Lines, NJ TRANSIT staff continue to remove fallen trees, and are replacing signal wires, power systems and repairing rail damage incurred at critical locations, such as in Kearny Junction. Service along the Gladstone Branch and the Montclair-Boonton Lines will remain suspended due fallen trees, track damage and broken overhead wire poles.

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 new, discounted, round trip service from Hoboken Terminal to Pier 79 on West 39^th 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 two 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: Effective tomorrow, Morristown and Summit branch service will resume limited operations on a special schedule. Limited MidTOWN Direct service will also resume. 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.

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.
Montclair-Boonton Lines: Montclair-Boonton service remains suspended until further notice due to the ongoing recovery efforts, including the repair of catenary power and signal systems damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Montclair-Boonton customers are encouraged to utilize NJ TRANSIT’s free emergency bus and ferry services, which can be accessed from the Bay Street, Glen Ridge and the Bloomfield stations.

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.