NJ Transit boosts ALP-46A locomotive orders
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey Transit has added nine ALP-46A electric locomotives to its previous order for 27, enabling more retirements of aging ALP-44 electrics. The new units, to be built by Bombardier, come with an option to purchase more in the future.
The new electrics will provide better acceleration, particularly with the agency's new multilevel commuter cars, and are also expected to be more reliable than the engines they'll be replacing.
Since the arrival of the ALP-44s, NJT has expanded service on its electric lines, in conjunction with projects such as the Montclair Connection (providing direct service to New York Penn Station for Montclair-Boonton Line riders) and the Secaucus Junction transfer station, where riders from diesel-powered lines can change to electric trains for service to Penn Station.
The additional nine locomotives come at a cost of $72 million. That's on top of the initial 2007 order, a contract that cost the agency $245 million. NJ Transit expects to begin receiving locomotives under the contract early next year, with delivery to be complete by mid-2011. |
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Pressure grows for weekend service on NJ Transit's Boonton Line
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. - After years of delays, community and state leaders in North Jersey are pushing for the launch of weekend service on New Jersey Transit's Montclair-Boonton line, the Montclair (N.J.) Times has reported. However, track work is ongoing in an effort to build capacity to handle those trains.
Don Zief, chairman of Montclair's public transportation advisory committee, said pressure on NJ Transit to add the trains "has gotten much more intense … people feel it's taking too long." The weekday service is now nearly seven years old.
North Jersey's Congressional delegation has joined in to urge the agency to begin the service. Proponents include Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, plus U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. and Donald M. Payne. State legislators have also begun to apply pressure.
Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried planned to lead a group of supporters to NJ Transit's board of directors meeting today in Newark, and he encouraged others to join him.
For its part, the agency says weekend work is occurring at Broad Street Station in Newark, on the Hudson River tunnels, and a road overpass in Montclair. "We are aware that there is growing demand from the Montclair community for the service and have been in discussions with Mayor Fried and the local transportation committee," NJ Transit Assistant Executive Director Lynn Bowersox wrote in a letter to a state senator. "NJ Transit certainly agrees that Montclair weekend service would be a benefit for our current and potential customers." |
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