North Jersey Coast Line
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The North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail line. Of 43 inbound and 44 outbound daily through trains on weekdays, 7 round trips (about 16%) use the Waterfront Connection (opened September 9, 1991) to Hoboken Terminal; One round trip terminates at Newark Penn Station, while the remainder of the through trains terminate at New York Penn Station. In addition, 11 of those inbound (northbound} through trains are represented by an electric train north of Long Branch, and a diesel train south of that point. Likewise, 17 outbound (southbound) through trains are presented by an electric train north of Long Branch, and a diesel train south of that point. Five of the inbound electric trains and four of the outbound electric trains use South Amboy as their southern terminus, while two of the inbound electric trains and one of the outbound electric trains uses Aberdeen-Matawan as their southern terminus. Weekend and holiday service is much simpler. 23 inbound and 24 outbound trains represent the full schedule, with three round trips to Hoboken, with the rest running to New York. of those, 18 inbound and 19 outbound trains are represented by both electric and diesel service. Passengers can transfer at Newark Penn Station or Secaucus Junction to reach the other destinations, if necessary.
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Electrification
The line is only electrified north of Long Branch. Electrified operation began between Rahway and South Amboy on March 11, 1936. Electrification was extended to Matawan in 1983 and to Long Branch in 1988.
- As an evidence, the Catenary Poles that run from the Union Junction in Rahway to South Amboy are the original Pennsylvania Railroad poles. The Poles from South Amboy to Matawan were constructed in 1983 when Electrification was extended to Matawan. The poles from Matawan to Long Branch were constructed during the late 1980's.
- As of today, the line is electrified at 12 kV AC North of Matawan, and at 25kV AC from Matawan to Long Branch. The power grid of the line features several phase gaps
Diesel trains of a line
Some diesel trains operate through to Hoboken (via the Waterfront Connection) or Newark. There are also Bay Head-Long Branch shuttles which connect to Long Branch-New York Penn Station electric trains.
Peak trains
Peak trains arrive in New York or Hoboken on weekdays between 7 am and 9:30 am, and leave New York or Hoboken on weekdays between 4 pm and 7 pm [1]. Peak trains currently arrive in New York-Penn between 7:15 am and 9:03 am, and they arrive in Hoboken between 7:05 am and 9:16 am; peak trains leave New York between 4:17 pm and 6:52 pm and Hoboken between 4:20 pm and 6:19 pm. [2]
Commuter Clubs
The line is also home to the last remaining private commuter passenger Club in the United States. The Jersey Shore Commuters Club was established in 1933 under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Currently it has use of half of a Comet IIB car - car #5459. In 2004, the Club Car went through a custom overhaul and was furnished, with the Club's own money, to include reclining lounge chairs, spacious seating, at-seat fold down tables, and private conference tables. The Club also hosts various onboard activities to preserve its heritage. Club members enjoy guaranteed and spacious seating as part of their annual membership fee that the Club remits to New Jersey Transit as part of its lease agreement. Membership is "open" and on a "first come first serve basis" to those willing to pay the membership fee and abide by the Club's bylaws. The Club end of the car is furnished similar to Amtrak's Amfleet and Horizon fleet of cars. The Club Car seats are actually former Amfleet Metroliner seats that the Club recently re-conditioned. The Club Car only runs during peak rush hour periods and on an express train schedule between New York City and Long Branch, with convenient connecting service to and from Bay Head. The Club offers a relaxing and enjoyable morning or evening commute. The Club Car portion is always adjacent to the locomotive.
The Club's former car (PRR 1734) is currently being preserved by the URHS. In the heyday of private passenger commuter club cars, numerous clubs operated on the North Jersey Coast Line (and others in New Jersey) using various cars including an ex-Florida East Coast observation car and the observation car of New Jersey's only in-state streamliner train, "The Blue Comet," an ex-Central Railroad of New Jersey car that once traveled on a portion of the North Jersey Coast Line to get from Jersey City to Atlantic City. Most of these clubs disappeared due to declining membership or when State agencies took over commuter train operations, but the Jersey Shore Commuters Club survived recently celebrate its 75th year of operation. Club Treasurer/Secretary, Hance M. Sitkus, CPA, is credited for restoring the Club's membership and heritage.
Rolling stock
The Coast Line has among the most diverse selection of fleet in the NJT system. Long Branch trains to and from New York use ALP-44/ALP-46 locomotives and Comet IIM/Comet III/Comet IV/Comet V cars. Budd Arrow III cars can only run as far as Aberdeen-Matawan due to voltage phase changes.
All service south of Long Branch is diesel and consists of GP40PH-2s NJT 4145-4150, GP40PH-2Bs NJT 4200-4219 GP40FH-2s NJT 4135-4144 and F40PH-2CATs NJT 4113-4129 with Comet cars. Diesels also run through service to Hoboken on weekdays.
Station listing
See Northeast Corridor Line for stations between New York/Hoboken and Perth Amboy Junction.
Notes
- The information about the poles used for the electrification is provided by Eric K.
External links
- Videos of the passing trains of the North Jersey Coast Line, by Eric K.
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