Latest Arrivals – Lackawanna Coalition

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Sally Jane Gellert

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This has been a stressful month for all of us, between the heat, the storms knocking down branches and even large trees, widespread complaints about our nation’s official birthday celebrations losing focus on the founding history, and whatever our own personal stressors might be. However, it did start out on a good note for the…

Storms KO Fourth of July Weekend Service on Much of NJ Transit; M&E Last Line to Recover Fully

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David Peter Alan

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In the midst of one of the hottest spells in recent memory, violent storms on Friday, July 3 knocked out service on many of New Jersey Transit’s (NJT’s) rail lines. The service disruptions continued through the holiday and into the following week. The last line to recover completely was the Morris & Essex (M&E) Line,…

NJ Transit Runs Special Schedules and Charges Special Fares for the FIFA World Cup Tournament

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David Peter Alan

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It has been an “all hands on deck” situation for NJ Transit as the FIFA World Cup “soccer” (as Americans and Canadians call the game) or “football” (as people elsewhere call it) matches are played at the Meadowlands. The schedule calls for 4 weekday matches and 4 others on weekend days to be played there,…

June 10, 1996: The Day “Midtown Direct” Service Changed Commuting and Other Trips on the M&E

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David Peter Alan

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Until June 10, 1996, riders on the Morris & Essex (M&E) Line, including Montclair and Gladstone Branches, could get to New York City only by taking a train to the historic Lackawanna Railroad terminal at Hoboken and changing for a PATH train to Manhattan. The railroad had once run ferries, but they were discontinued in…

RUN Conference

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Webweaver

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On Friday November 14th, 2025 the Rail Users’ Network held its Fall Conference, An Update – keeping you informed in the world of Passenger Rail & Rail Transit. RUN Chair Richard Rudolph gave the opening statement. He spoke on RUN’s history. It started with an 8-page newsletter in 2000. He said that we must maintain…

Report from the Chair – March/April 2026

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Sally Jane Gellert

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This past month has been one of the coldest in New Jersey in quite some time, with lots of snow—February’s storm was the largest in 5 years. Both the January and February meetings of the Lackawanna Coalition, scheduled to be held in person at the Summit Free Public Library, were cancelled when the library was…

PennDOT Talks about Passenger Trains to Scranton again

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David Peter Alan

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The Lackawanna Coalition considers its geographic purview to include lines that were once part of the Lackawanna Railroad, even if they are located beyond NJ Transit’s reach. That includes the line to Scranton over the Cutoff, an engineering marvel that crossed the Pocono Mountains and began service in 1911. The last scheduled passenger trains ran…

Amtrak Strands Sight-Impaired Campers in Michigan; Advocates Fume in Response

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David Peter Alan

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Amtrak’s Wolverine service in Michigan, which runs between Chicago and Pontiac through Detroit, has not been doing very well lately. There have been reports of breakdowns, cancellations, and other problems on the line, including with new engines that recently entered service. For a group of about 30 blind and otherwise sight-impaired campers, the train trip…

Back to the Future

February 8, 2026

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David Peter Alan

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An Unintended Preview of Things to Come If you are old enough to remember what commuting and/or occasional trips to the City were like before Midtown Direct service started on the Morris & Essex (M&E) Line in 1996, you will get to relive the experience this February and March, and probably again in the fall. …

Portal North Bridge Cutover Brings Schedule Changes Later This Winter

February 8, 2026

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David Peter Alan

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