Can someone help a relative noob wrap his mind around where this train would actually go and what service would be like? Am I right in saying that NJ Transit would have service between the current West Trenton station and Newark via the freight tracks that run from West Trenton until they hit the NJ Transit tracks at Bridgewater? If so, I'm guessing the main idea is to have another Philadelphia/New York rail link?
The reason I'm curious is because I know that a lot of folks who work for various state agencies, lobbying firms, law offices, etc...in Trenton are the ones who are clogging Route 206 and also Route 31 in the morning heading south from Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. I guess with beefed up bus service from West Trenton, the proposed line would be attractive for those potential riders, but what about sweetening the deal by reviving the plan to extend the River Line from the Trenton station through the downtown area all the way to West Trenton? Or would it be somewhat redundant to have the River Line linking two stations that offer Philadelphia/New York service?
To me it would make a lot of sense because if the River Line linked both stations, people from both north and south Jersey would have a quick and easy way to get downtown without wrangling with Route 31, Route 206, I-295, or Route 129. It would also make a lot of sense because I'll probably be taking a job in Trenton within the next year and I'd love to be able to live in Hunterdon without dreading my commute every morning.
I'm amazed they fixed Hopewell inside of a week. 