https://www.app.com/story/travel/2016/1 ... /95162612/
I know this article is from 2016, but I believe it has some pertinent information in it that we must all keep in mind:
FACTS:
1) "The plan — conceived between Clayton Sand Co., New Jersey Seashore Lines and Conrail — is to restore freight service over 13 miles of rehabilitated track between Lakehurst and the Woodmansie section of Woodland Township, where Clayton operates a sand mine, according to Ocean County officials."
2) '"This has been going on over a couple of years," said David J. McKeon, Ocean County planning director. "I know they've been doing some maintenance, they've been clearing some brush away from the tracks. ... (Clayton) is going to use it to transport sand and gravel, that's their business."'
'"If they want to do something else, if they say, 'hey, we're going to expand the lines, we're going to do this and that, then they need to come to the Pinelands Commission and get a permit and work with them," McKeon said.'
TAKEAWAYS (redundant, but factual)
1) Clayton is the sole push for this reactivation. Other customers in the future is undetermined and too soon to speculate.
2) The state is fully aware of the want for the line to be reactivated. This project faces bureaucratic, financial, AND environmental hurdles in order for it to come alive. The Pinelands Commission needs to be involved with this project no matter what, Including possible future expansion of operations. This is something I never knew and overlooked.
BOTTOM LINE
1) We still have to wait...... this project may or may not ever fully takeoff and that's the frustrating part