Light rail in New Jersey

Light rail in New Jersey

Light rail in New Jersey is provided by New Jersey Transit, a corporation which also provides bus and heavy rail services.

Contents

Hudson–Bergen Light Rail

Two HBLR trains near Exchange Place.

The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) is a service that connects the Hudson County communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, and North Bergen with 23 stops along 3 services.

This line was borne out of a public-private partnership in the mid-1990s, with Washington Group International, doing business as 21st century Rail, chosen for a DBOM contract for the line to design, build, operate, and maintain the line for its first 15 years. With construction beginning in 1997, the first segments, from Exchange Place to West Side Avenue and 34th Street opening in 2000, with service to Pavonia-Newport, Hoboken Terminal, 22nd Street, Lincoln Harbor, and Tonnelle Avenue opening in later segments between 2000 and 2005, and 8th Street opening in 2011.

The current HBLR fleet consists of 53 low-floor electric light rail cars.

HBLR fares

As of May 1, 2010 the current one-way fare on the HBLR is $2.10. The line works under a proof-of-payment system, requiring all riders to have a validated ticket (validated prior to boarding the train), transfer, or a valid pass.

Newark Light Rail

Newark Light Rail car No. 104 crosses Broad Street near Riverfront Stadium.

The Newark Light Rail (NLR) is a light rail system composed of two sections, the Newark City Subway, originally opened in the 1930s by PSCT as the No. 7 line, and the sole surviving line of several that ran into this tunnel, and the Broad Street Line which operates from Newark Penn to Newark Broad Street via Washington Park and Riverfront Stadium, which opened in 2006. This line is also included in NJT Bus' Central Division, dating back to its days as a streetcar line.

Originally constructed as a streetcar line using PCC streetcars, the Newark City Subway ran from Newark Penn to a loop at the Newark city line located at what was then called Franklin Avenue. With the conversion of operation from PCC streetcars to cars similar to what is used on the HBLR, the Franklin Avenue loop was removed and replaced with the Branch Brook Park, with service extended to Grove Street.

NLR utilizes a fleet of 20 cars, similar to the HBLR fleet.

NLR fares

As of May 1, 2010 NLR one-way fares are equivalent to a one-zone bus ride of $1.50, with the ability to purchase through tickets valid for a ride on Newark Light Rail and on a connecting bus to Bloomfield, Passaic and points beyond up to 4 local bus fare zones (generally, to Paterson, Willowbrook, and West Caldwell). The line works under a proof-of-payment system, requiring all riders to have a validated ticket (validated prior to boarding the train), transfer, bus through-ticket, or a valid pass.

River Line

A two-car River Line train boards customers at Walter Rand Transportation Center.

The River Line is a diesel light rail line operating from Trenton to Entertainment Center in Camden, with the line, except at the ends, running along the former Bordentown Secondary of Conrail, servicing 20 stops along the 34-mile route in the Route 130 corridor. This line is operated under contract to New Jersey Transit by Southern New Jersey Rail Group, a Bombardier/Bechtel joint-venture.

River Line fares

As of May 1, 2010 River Line fares are equivalent to a one-zone bus ride of $1.50. The line works under a proof-of-payment system, requiring all riders to have a validated ticket (validated prior to boarding the train), transfer, bus through-ticket, or a valid pass.

Future projects

References

External links