The Atlantic City Line Thread

[liftedjeep]

-NJT #4208 (GP40PH-2B) was spotted this evening on Atlantic City Line #4634 at the Cherry Hill Station. This marks the first time #4208 has been on the Atlantic City Line since being stored out of service at the MMC since 2013/14.

http://bkranefeld.rrpicturearchives.net ... id=5165284

NJ Transit has been reactivating many of their GP40s that have been oos due to the equipment/power shortage.

Ben

[liftedjeep]

This evening (7/26) saw WPCA-20 on its return trip to Camden, waiting out an NJ Transit train at CP JORDAN. This junction is where the Hainesport Industrial Track and Atlantic City Line converge at about the Park Ave grade crossing in Pennsauken.

No sooner did I arrive and scout a location, did Atlantic City Line train #4634 round the curve at speed, bound for Philadelphia....

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5165576


Ben

[chuchubob]

Atlantic City Air Show Extra photographed at Utica Ave, Westmont, with five cars.

[Tom V]

Much of my ideas for improving the ACL have already been discussed;

Utilizing ALP-45DP to access Suburban and Market East, relocate the Cherry Hill station and build a new station at Woodcrest for better access from 295.

[MedicSutton]

I think those are great ideas but we’ve got to find a better way to funnel these trains into center city quicker. Not sure how much more time we can milk out of the delair bridge. We and/or they should be working with Patco to look towards the future and find a faster more direct way to funnel rail traffic into center city. Especially if feeder lines are added and service is added to the acl.. My thought has always been a Delaware River tunnel but I’m curious as to what others are thinking.

[liftedjeep]

"Delaware River tunnel"????? No dice!!

You want passengers into and out of the city a lot quicker? Simple: Add More Trains!

That's always been an issue with the Atlantic City Line. If you miss a train at any given station, you're stuck waiting almost two hours for the next. A higher train frequency would undoubtedly add more ridership to the ACL. I know it's been discussed in the past, but NJ Transit doesn't seem to be interested.

Also, I'm not so sure that relocating the Cherry Hill station would be to the advantage of the Atlantic City Line. Its current location is ideal in the fact that it is within walking distance of multiple stores and retail outlets. The issue is that half of these stores are cut off from the station unless you walk down to the Route 70 overpass to get across the line. A pedestrian tunnel would be ideal at this location. Again, ideas that Transit has tossed around in the past but failed to ever act on.

Ben

[ExCon90]

I think the main concern in some posts above is about the around-the-horn routing via the bridge, Frankford Jct., North Phila., Zoo, and 30th St. to get to Suburban Station and Market East/Jefferson. I don't see any alternative but a tunnel under the Delaware and have no idea where the money would come from to do that and then have some kind of terminal in Center City. (Tying into the Commuter Tunnel would overtax the existing services as well as introducing a congestion nightmare at the actual junction. Of course Frankford Jct. presents the same problem, with the addition of Amtrak NEC traffic to make it more challenging.)

[andrewjw]

The simplest solution would be to improve the tail tracks situation at the western end of PATCO to increase capacity there, and add some express trains with timed transfers to the ACL.

[mcgrath618]

Had a job interview in Cherry Hill, so I decided to take the ACL both ways.

Getting there was no problem. However, my 11:20 train to come back to Philadelphia was cancelled because of a "stranded track car." I assume they mean a geometry train, but the NJT Geometry car was sitting right in front of me on the siding at Cherry Hill!

Is this a frequent occurrence on the line? Why is Cherry Hill Station in the back of a shopping center?

[liftedjeep]

I wouldn't necessarily say a frequent occurrence on the Atlantic City Line. I think every rail line is susceptible to delays/cancellations.

Over the past few weeks, I've heard talk over my scanner from MoW crews on the Atlantic City Line. There's a good chance that the "stranded track car" may have been one of their vehicles.

Ben

[glennk419]

Rode the train to the AC Boat Show yesterday. The train was well patronized in both directions. The 3:29 to Philly was packed, even with an extra car. Looks like NJT is getting ready to embark on another tie replacement project as there were stacks of new ties along almost the entire route from AC to Lindenwold.

[Launcher]

Ironically, this line experienced a several month shutdown in 2019. Now, the state is essentially shut down, and a non essential travel restriction in effect but the trains are still running on a normal schedule. (All other lines were reduced to a president's day schedule.)

Would love to hear your thoughts. I suppose the train is perceived to be safer method than a longer and more contained bus ride, for those that are essential employees going to hospitals or other care centers. Granted, there's not much you can cut when there is a 60-90+ headway, already.

[lensovet]

Ironically, this line experienced a several month shutdown in 2019. Now, the state is essentially shut down, and a non essential travel restriction in effect but the trains are still running on a normal schedule. (All other lines were reduced to a president's day schedule.)

Would love to hear your thoughts. I suppose the train is perceived to be safer method than a longer and more contained bus ride, for those that are essential employees going to hospitals or other care centers. Granted, there's not much you can cut when there is a 60-90+ headway, already.

suspect it's much simpler, which is that the cost savings of reducing service are not worth it and the drop-off in ridership has not been as significant. since it was probably not that high to begin with?

[RRspatch]

I'm actually surprised the Atlantic City line is still running. Isn't the whole reason for this service is to bring casino workers and gamblers to Atlantic City? Are the casinos in AC shut down as they are in Las Vegas? Yes, the line does see a big pickup in traffic after Memorial day for beach goers but that's still two months away. At this point no ones even sure COVID-19 will go away in the summer.

[chuchubob]

A Transit contact says that ridership has varied from single digits to three dozen.