NJT, Metro-North Restore More Service Lost During Superstorm Sandy
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- NJ TRANSIT said it has restored rail service into New York City to pre-Superstorm Sandy levels. In addition, all scheduled MTA Metro-North Railroad trains will run west of the Hudson as of Monday.
Executive director James Weinstein said full restoration marks another milestone because most customers commute to and from Manhattan.
"I cannot emphasize enough the tireless efforts made by our rail employees to restore service for our customers," Weinstein said.
Service levels on the North Jersey Coast Line will reach 96 percent when nine trains are added to the line starting Monday. Two of the trains will be electric and operate between Long Branch and New York's Penn Station.
NJT Restores Most Pre-Sandy Service
The remaining seven trains will either originate or terminate in Bay Head. Four of those trains will resume service between Bay Head and Hoboken.
NJ TRANSIT said rail operations system wide will reach 94 percent of its pre-Sandy service level on Monday, with 658 of the 700 weekday trains scheduled prior to the storm operational.
In addition, NJ TRANSIT said it expects power to be restored to Hoboken Terminal by March. Flooding from Sandy destroyed a substation there, knocking out power to the terminal.
Diesel-powered trains are being used instead of electric-powered trains until electricity is fully restored.
"We are continuing to work closely with our partners in Washington and Trenton to secure the funds needed to raise this critical substation and make it more resilient for the future," said Weinstein.
Effective January 14, trains will be added:
- Nine additional trains on the North Jersey Coast Line
- Eight additional trains on the Morris & Essex Lines restoring one-seat service between the Morristown Line and Hoboken Terminal
- Six additional trains on the Montclair-Boonton Line
- Three additional trains on the Pascack Valley Line
- Two additional trains on the Port Jervis Line
For more information, visit njtransit.com.
The Metro-North trains will operate on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines for the first time since Sandy hit.
"We are very gratified that our operating partner is able once again to operate a full complement of trains to serve our New York State customers," said Metro-North President Howard Permut.
In the morning, #1618, the 7:59 AM New York State express, and #1622, the off-peak 8:51 AM departures from Spring Valley, will resume.
In the afternoon, three off-peak departures from Hoboken are being restored: #1623, the 3:37 PM, #1639, the 7:20 PM that operates Monday through Thursday, and #9653, which departs Hoboken on Fridays only at 2:58 PM.
On the Port Jervis Line, two weekday trains, #56, the 7:46 AM off-peak departure from Port Jervis and #63, the 7:02 PM departure from Hoboken also are being restored.
Some Port Jervis Line trains will continue to make stops in New Jersey to support NJTransit's continuing recovery efforts, five in the AM peak and two in the PM peak.
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