New Jersey Passenger Rail Expansion Survey

[rrbluesman]

An interesting survey is currently being conducted regarding passenger expansion in NJ, I shared this link earlier in the New Jersey Railfan forum, seems like it might reach a broader array of commuters if I post it here too.

https://forms.gle/NJtLNKErq4sD7y1s6

[RWERN]

I felt it was bizarre how much the study seemed to focus on Atsion Lake and the Carranza Memorial.
The study must be funded by some group that stands to benefit by drumming up tourism in that area.

I mean, I suppose you could make a case for a limited seasonal stop at Lake Atsion.

The Carranza Memorial is hardly an attraction, just a stone marker of the approximate crash site of the Mexican aviator deep in the woods.
I don't know what kind of mental gymnastics someone went through to think that's a winner for siting a train station.


Anyway, I threw in a bunch more routes and towns under the "other" option for new stations.
Pretty much every ex-PSRL branch and the big prize for MOM, Freehold.
I forgot to put in Toms River as that is never brought up in MOM discussions, but is a big town, the heart of that area of the shore.

[amtrakowitz]

This is a survey, not a study.

[Pensyfan19]

This is a survey, not a study.

With enough positive feedback, this could lead to a study which could lead to a proposal and then the actual route.

[nkloudon]

>>With enough positive feedback, this could lead to a study which could lead to a proposal and then the actual route.<<

And by then we will have perfected molecular transport and it will all be moot!

[Pensyfan19]

It's still a chance for restored passenger service along the route of the original Blue Comet! Not to mention, it would also be a direct NY to Atlantic City service, as well as service along other PRSL lines which haven't seen service in decades.

[NY&LB]

It has been discussed in these threads many times. The CNJ Southern Division route is NOT faster than the failed NYP-ACL "casino express".
Even if it was upgraded to 90 mph track, it still would NOT be faster.
Furthermore, there is no demand for that service.
In a perfect world, I would love to see passenger trains on the Southern Division but it is not going to happen.

[Return to Reading Company Olney Sta]

It has been discussed in these threads many times. The CNJ Southern Division route is NOT faster than the failed NYP-ACL "casino express".
Even if it was upgraded to 90 mph track, it still would NOT be faster.
Furthermore, there is no demand for that service.
In a perfect world, I would love to see passenger trains on the Southern Division but it is not going to happen.

+1

JTGSHU, a respected poster who unfortunately passed several years ago, was an NJT engineer. He clearly and cogently explained why, despite the way it may appear on a map, the Southern Division route is not faster than the NEC route.

[Jeff Smith]

Do we know who the author of the survey is? That might say something about the motivation. The End User Agreement on the link to the google doc mentions "BJV Consulting LLC". A google search indicated the company is in Marietta, GA. Is it their survey? Or for a client? I don't see any direct connection to New Jersey Transit.

[Hawaiitiki]

JTGSHU, a respected poster who unfortunately passed several years ago, was an NJT engineer. He clearly and cogently explained why, despite the way it may appear on a map, the Southern Division route is not faster than the NEC route.

If I can remember back that far without scrolling through archives for a day, I believe the majority of the issues regarded capacity. Making a meaningful express on the NJCL was the issue. Without adding an additional track for many many miles in extremely built up areas, costing billions, on the current NJCL that bypassed current stations, it would be impossible to maintain a reasonable speed that would come anything close to matching the speeds you would make up on the NEC, despite the longer distance as the crow flies. Adding a NY-bound wye at Frankford Junction from the Delair Bridge would be the best solution, albeit still expensive and would save even another 20-30 minutes off of the AC-NYC casino train. (I rode that train twice and the lengthy, often HEP-free, pause between the NEC and ACL was the deal-breaker from me ever taking it again)