PLATFORM EXPANSION PAVES WAY FOR EXTENDED CARS TO OPERATE ON HUDSON-BERGEN LIGHT RAIL DURING PEAK PERIODS

Extended Cars Provide More Capacity and Comfort for Riders

NEWARK, NJ — With the platform expansion at Exchange Place in Jersey City now complete, NJ TRANSIT is ready to operate the longer “extended’’ cars on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) trains during the busy peak periods.

The platforms at Exchange Place are now 190 feet in length, an increase of 25 feet from the previous length.

“NJ TRANSIT is pleased to be enhancing our customers’ experience and improving our HBLR line,’’ said Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “ This platform extension will allow customers to fully benefit from the additional seating that is available on the extended cars.’’

Work began in Spring 2017 and finished in September, and cost approximately $2.7 million.

The extended cars contain 102 seats, providing a 50-percent increase in seating capacity from the 68 seats in a traditional light rail vehicle.  The extended cars also allow for additional customer standing room.

Currently, the HBLR utilizes seven extended cars on its system, with 18 more being rolled out in the coming months. The Exchange Place Station was the only station on the system that needed to lengthen platforms to fit the extended cars. As more extended cars are delivered, they will be used during morning and afternoon peak periods, improving the service, comfort and quality for the 50,000-55,000 average weekday riders.

NJ TRANSIT began using the extended car as a prototype in 2013 with great success. The roll out of extended vehicles was completed on Newark Light Rail in September 2017 and is now being introduced during the peak periods on the HBLR. Previously, HBLR ran the extended cars as a one-vehicle train on the Hoboken-to-Tonnelle Avenue route and during high travel periods on weekends.

“Due to physical constraints with the north and south intersections, the platforms at Exchange Place were not able accommodate these extended cars until now,’’ Santoro said. “I thank our customers for their patience during the construction of the platform extension.  The platform expansion and extended light rail cars will enable our customers to enjoy a more spacious and better transit experience.”  

The HBLR serves 24 light rail stations including 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.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 944,000 weekday trips on 255 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 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.