About 30 Atlantic City rail line passengers did what they’ve been doing since September, board a bus instead of a train. This time their trip was to Newark to attend Wednesday’s NJ Transit’s board of directors meeting, where they expressed their frustration that the trains still aren’t running.
The rail line, which connects Atlantic City and Philadelphia, was shut down in September to install federally-mandated Positive Train Control equipment, and some new rail. Riders were given a 25-percent discount and substitute bus options to PATCO stations. But that substitute has been far from satisfactory, commuters said.
“I was one of those Philadelphia riders up to the last day of service,” said James Thorton. “I was one of those riders forced on shuttle buses. For my monthly rail fare, I get a bus ride.”
Riders wanting to travel to the 30th Street train station in Philadelphia have to transfer to two other rail systems, PATCO and SEPTA, to reach the same destination the closed NJ Transit line would have taken them to, Thorton said. He tried to explain it in terms North Jersey riders would understand.
“PATCO is too often South Jersey’s version of the problematic PATH rail system, with breakdowns, crowding, delays and uncaring management and staff willing to let it happen,” he said. “PATCO stops more than one mile short of 30th Street … forcing a transfer to another rail system with a third fare.”
He demanded restoration of Atlantic City rail line service without any service cuts and an increase in train frequency. NJ Transit needs to stop seeing its rail and bus lines as burdens, Thorton said.
Other commuters said that they had to start their commute 60- to 90-minutes earlier and that substitute buses were late or no-shows. Several said they expected rail service to resume Jan. 1 after the PTC deadline was met. One woman said her commute has ballooned to four-hours, round trip.
“South Jersey commuters are tired of taking the bus to PATCO every day,” said Delvan Bradford of Philadelphia. “In September, you said the rail line would return in January, now that’s been pushed to April. You don’t care about south Jersey commuters.”
NJ Transit officials said service would return in the second quarter of 2019, which could be anytime from April to late June. Federal Railroad Administration officials said NJ Transit didn’t need that agency’s permission to resume service on the Atlantic City line or to return off-peak Raritan Valley line service to and from New York or resume the Princeton Shuttle.
NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett said after the meeting that service would be able to resume soon because the agency has invested millions of dollars in the line. Citing equipment, inspection, available crews and an upcoming rail schedule change in May, Corbett said the agency wants to make sure the work is fully completed before service resumes.
“We don’t want to reintroduce something in April, that we’d be pulling back or altering in May,” he said. “I’d love to say (it would return) effective (on) x date, right away … we want to make it as soon as possible. We have equipment issues, testing of equipment we installed, there are a lot of demands.”
Atlantic County officials said they’re concerned for the upcoming summer season.
“Now all we have is a possible second quarter (date) that’s the height of our tourism season,” said Amy L. Gatto, Atlantic City Freeholder board chairwoman. “We’re working on our convention season, we can’t do that without rail. We need an answer, we need a valid date.”
Public officials said lack of rail service is affecting attendance at events at the Atlantic City Convention Center, where the rail line ends.
“We are in convention season. I’ve been there when the trains empty out a tremendous amount of people. Those who came on the train are not coming,” said Atlantic County Surrogate James Curcio of Hammonton. “Give us a date and a timeline. This is extremely damaging.”
Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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