Today, January 1, 2003 marks 20 years of New Jersey Transit rail operations. The first departure was on January 1, 1983 at 12:30 am on the Morris & Essex Lines from Hoboken Terminal New Jersey. Since then, it has modernized its equipment, re-electrified the Morris & Essex lines, Extended electrifaction from South Amboy to Long Branch on the North Jersey Coast Line, Extended Morristown/Montclair-Booton Line to Hackettstown, introduced MidTOWN Direct Service on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and with the Montclair Connection on the Montclair-Booton Line (Made up of the "Upper" Booton Line and Montclair Branch through Montclair Heights Sta.). Service was also lost on the "Lower" Booton Line.
Accesibility at stations has also improved, along with new stations including Hamilton and Newark International Airport. And is currently building stations in Union, Montclair State University, and the Secaucus Transfer point.
May 19, 2003- Damage to River Drawbridge affects North Jersey Coast Line Service
Before 7:00 a.m. EDT today, a crane being carried on a barge in the Raritan River, snagged and pulled down the catenary wire on the River Draw Bridge. Trains were stopped around 7:00 a.m., with many terminating at South Amboy.
Starting at 3:30 PM, NJ Transit trains on the North Jersey Coast Line began operating limited, OUTBOUND ONLY service until 9:45 p.m. This is due to only one of the four tracks currently being operable. Trains will experience 30 to 45 minute delays, because of signaling problems and ongoing wi At 9:00 p.m., NJ Transit will make an announcement regarding service tommorow.
