Tag: equipment


  • Push-Pull Train in Crash Lacked “Alerter”

    The common operation of “push-pull” trains by railroads again came under investigation as it was revealed that the control cab at the front of the Metro-North train that crashed on December 1 did not have an “alerter” system in use.  Such a system monitors the engineer’s actions and, if he or she does nothing for…

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  • “Push-Pull” Trains Questioned After Metro-North Wreck

    Whether operation of trains by locomotives pushing rather than pulling the cars is totally safe has come into question after the fatal Metro-North train wreck that killed 4 passengers and injured many others on December 1. The train consisted of 8 cars and a dual-mode diesel and electric locomotive, which was pushing the cars from…

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  • Coalition Calls on NJT to Overhaul Electrically-Powered Cars

    The Coalition has called on New Jersey Transit to overhaul the 230 electrically-powered Arrow III Electric Multiple-Unit (EMU) cars it owns and to cut back on on its purchase of multilevel cars from Bombardier.  The “Arrows” were manufactured in 1978 and were once the primary cars used on the M&E and other electrified lines at…

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  • M&E, Montclair Restored after Storm

     Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines are scheduled to restore service at noon, Saturday, Feb. 9; service had been suspended at 8 p.m. on Friday during  the snowstorm.  NJT attributed this action to the vulnerability of those lines to tree damage, citing the experience of Superstorm Sandy in October (which has resulted in continuing reduction…

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  • Safer Yards for Next Storm?

    NJ Transit service as of mid-January continues to be limited since Superstorm Sandy on some lines, mainly those relying on electric service to Hoboken.  Why is the service limited?  NJT has not been particularly forthcoming on this point, but many observers point to limited availability of nonelectric rolling stock, perhaps limited by equipment damaged by…

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  • NJT Bucks Trend; Orders High-Floor Buses

    New Jersey Transit has ordered 158 high-floor buses, in contrast to other transit providers, which have switched to low-floor buses.  The low-floor models do not require riders to climb four steps when bording.  Low-floor buses have won praise within the transit industry, because it is easy for riders in wheelchairs, or with other disabilities, to…

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  • Riders Get Fare Hikes, Consultants Get Big Bucks

    From our September/October 2010 Railgram newsletter  Regular riders on the Morris & Essex Lines are all too aware of the fare increases, along with service reductions, that New Jersey Transit implemented this past spring.  Yet this belt-tightening doesn’t go across the board; the most dramatic illustration is NJT’s insistence on building a new “deep cavern” terminal in…

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