NJ TRANSIT: Still Months For Electric Trains Out Of Hoboken
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - It will take two to three more months for NJ TRANSIT to make interim repairs to the substation that powers the Hoboken Terminal and its electric trains running on overhead wires.
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Both NJT and PATH operations in Hoboken were severely damaged by superstorm Sandy.
Since Sandy, the station has been on generator power and only served by diesel trains. That has meant they have not been able to restore full service.
"You can't just call up the manufacturer and say, 'I'll have, you know, I'll have a substation 605-A.' They actually are unique and customized to the particular user. So, it's going to take us some time," said NJT Executive Director Jim Weinstein.
He said the whole system there has to be washed and they need to get as much of the salt out of it as possible.Even then, he said salt damage will pop up again as a problem.
"So, we know from experience that you need to replace this," he said. "The other thing we'll do when we do that permanent repair is elevate it so that it's above the flood level."
Weinstein said that long-term repairs could take a year or more.
The agency said that Sandy cost it $400 million and it will have to spend another $800 million to be better prepared for the next storm.
The PATH, or Port Authority Trans-Hudson, rail system, which is operated by the Port Authority, has still not reopened the Hoboken station.
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