Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

  • Report from the Chair – Nov/Dec 2024 Edition

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    As I write this, the election is still a week away, but by the time you are reading, we will know in what direction our country will be headed.  Surely transit will be one of the many items to be greatly affected by that result.  We’ll address possible implications and expectations of the incoming administration…

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  • Multilevel cars to get their trucks overhauled, but what about the windows?

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    David Peter Alan

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    NJ Transit approved a contract on Thursday, October 10 to overhaul the trucks on 100 Multilevel II cars, which were ordered in 2010 and built by Bombardier in 2012–13. The overhaul is slated to cost almost $26 million, to be funded by the Transportation Trust Fund.  It will be performed by Alstom, which purchased Bombardier…

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  • NJ Transit Runs Special Trains to “Railroad Museum [for a day]”

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    David Peter Alan

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    As it has done for many years, the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey held its “Railroad Museum [for a day]” event at its facility in Boonton on Sunday, September 29. This year, NJ Transit allowed nonmotorists as well as motorists to reach the event by running special trains every 2 hours (4 round…

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  • Stuck on NJT? Check Out Our Site!

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    George Kaufer

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    As users of the NJT rail network ourselves, we know that there are times when there are delays or outright service suspensions. NJ Transit has put together a list of “Alternatives, Backups, and Contingency” routes, but with very little context, and in some cases, outright errors. Our Web site now has a list of service…

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  • Public Notice Required Before“Substantial Curtailment” of Non-NJT Buses

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    As this issue goes to press, we were notified of the governor’s signature on S2607/A3872, which requires private bus operators of “motorbus regular route service”, not including “charter bus operation,” “special bus operation,” or “casino bus operation” or “a motorbus route predominately operated for tourism or recreational purposes” to give NJ Transit and the N.J.…

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  • Report from the Chair—Sept./Oct. 2024

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    This summer has been a challenging one at NJ Transit, with many rail delays, which the agency largely blamed on Amtrak. In fact, the agency has now started reporting 2 sets of delay statistics: those with an Amtrak component, and those without. As trains become stuck in tunnels, we think about the often-raised concern regarding…

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  • NJ Transit Takes a “Fare Holiday”

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    David Peter Alan

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    NJ Transit gave a late-summer present to its riders: 8 days of service without charging fares. The “fare holiday” ran from Monday, August 26, through the following Monday, which was Labor Day. Commuters who had already paid fortheir August monthly pass got a 25% discount for September. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the week of free…

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  • Resolution: Give Us Information!

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    At the Coalition’s last meeting, we passed a resolution expressing our long-term frustration with the opacity of NJ Transit on just about any subject. The specific concerns this time (among many) are the 50% cut to peak-period River Line service and the ongoing issue of translucent or opaque windows on many rail cars, especially multilevel…

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  • RUN’s Fall Conference Highlights Advocacy for Regional Corridors Around the Nation

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    David Peter Alan

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    The Rail Users’ Network (RUN) will focus on advocating for corridor-length passenger train routes that could be established under the Corridor ID Program sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The online conference will take place on Friday afternoon, November 15, from 12:00 until 5:00. The event’s theme will be F.R.A. Corridor Grants – Boosting…

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    Webweaver

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    Avenel Woodbridge Perth Amboy South Amboy Aberdeen-Matawan Hazlet Middletown Red Bank Long Branch Elberon/Allenhurst Asbury Park Belmar/Spring Lake/Manasquan/Point Pleasant For intermediate riders, keep in mind that the North Jersey Coast Line can be “replicated” by taking the following chain of buses from Newark: #24/59/62 to Elizabeth – #48 to Perth Amboy – #817 to Campbells…

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