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The North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail line which provides service between New York Penn Station/Hoboken Terminal and Long Branch/Bay Head. On rail system maps, the North Jersey Coast Line is colored light blue, and its symbol is a sailboat.
Most trains operate between Long Branch and New York Penn Station with frequent rush-hour service and hourly local service during off-peak times. Diesel shuttle trains operate between Long Branch and Bay Head and are timed to meet the electric trains for through service. Hourly New York to Long Branch service operates on weekends, with hourly diesel shuttle service (with some gaps) between Long Branch and Bay Head.
During weekdays, 6 round trip diesel trains run directly from Bay Head to Hoboken Terminal using the Waterfront Connection since September 9, 1991. This allows riders on the non-electrified part of the line to access Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal on a one-seat ride. Connections can be made at Newark Penn Station for service to New York Penn Station.
Some electric service terminates at either South Amboy or Aberdeen-Matawan. These trains run local and make all stops between their respective terminus and New York Penn Station. They provide the primary local service for the Northeast Corridor stops of Rahway, Linden, Elizabeth, and North Elizabeth during rush hours.
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Electrification
The line is only electrified north (railroad east) of Long Branch. Electrified operation between Rahway and South Amboy began on March 11, 1936. Electrification was extended to Matawan in 1983 and to Long Branch in 1988. There are future plans to extend the electrification as far as Asbury Park [2], and farther south to Bay Head [3].
- As an evidence, the catenary poles that run from the Union Junction in Rahway to South Amboy are the original Pennsylvania Railroad poles. The poles from South Amboy to Matawan were constructed in 1983 when Electrification was extended to Matawan. The poles from Matawan to Long Branch were constructed during the late 1980s.
- As of today, the line is electrified at 11 kV 25 Hz AC north of Matawan. In 2002, the electrification from Matawan to Long Branch was changed to 25 kV 60 Hz AC. As a result the Arrow III passenger cars can no longer run between those two points, since those trains are not compatible to run on two different voltages on one trip. The only time Arrow III cars run on the Coast Line are only the trains that terminate in either South Amboy or Matawan. The power grid of the line features three phase gaps to segregate different power sources.
Diesel trains on the line
Some diesel trains operate through to Hoboken (via the Waterfront Connection) or Newark. There are also Bay Head-Long Branch shuttles which connect to Long Branch-New York Penn Station electric trains.
Peak trains
Peak trains arrive in New York or Hoboken on weekdays between 7 am and 9:30 am, and leave New York or Hoboken on weekdays between 4 pm and 7 pm [1]. Peak trains currently arrive in New York-Penn between 7:15 am and 9:03 am, and they arrive in Hoboken between 7:05 am and 9:16 am; peak trains leave New York between 4:17 pm and 6:52 pm and Hoboken between 4:20 pm and 6:19 pm. [2]
Commuter Clubs
The line is also home to the last remaining private commuter passenger Club in the United States. The Jersey Shore Commuters Club was established in 1933 under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Currently it has use of half of a Comet IIM car - car #5459. In 2004, the Club Car went through a custom overhaul and was furnished, with the Club's own money, to include reclining lounge chairs, spacious seating, at-seat fold down tables, and private conference tables. The Club also hosts various onboard activities to preserve its heritage. Club members enjoy guaranteed and spacious seating as part of their annual membership fee that the Club remits to New Jersey Transit as part of its lease agreement. Membership is "open" and on a "first come first served basis" to those willing to pay the membership fee and abide by the Club's bylaws. The Club end of the car is furnished similar to Amtrak's Amfleet and Horizon fleet of cars. The Club Car seats are actually former Amfleet Metroliner seats that the Club recently re-conditioned. The Club Car only runs during peak rush hour periods and is always run with the club end coupled to the locomotive when used.
Rolling stock
The Coast Line has among the most diverse selection of fleet in the NJT system. Long Branch trains to and from New York use ALP-44 or ALP-46 locomotives with Comet series or Multi-Level coaches. Arrow III EMUs are sometimes seen on South Amboy and Matawan locals, while all service south of Long Branch is diesel.
Station listing
See Northeast Corridor Line for stations between New York/Hoboken and Perth Amboy Junction.
| Milepost | City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Rahway | Rahway | NJT Northeast Corridor Line splits, NJT Bus: 62 |
| 21 | Woodbridge Township | Avenel | |
| 22.5 | Woodbridge | NJT: 62, 116, 803 | |
| 21 | Perth Amboy | Perth Amboy | NJT Bus: 62, 116, 813, 815, 817 |
| 1.5 | South Amboy | South Amboy | NJT Bus: 815, 817 |
| 6.5 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen-Matawan | NJT Bus: 135 |
| 8.5 | Hazlet | Hazlet | |
| 12.5 | Middletown | Middletown | |
| 16.5 | Red Bank | Red Bank | Academy Bus Shore Points line NJT Bus: 831, 832, 833, 834, 835 |
| 19 | Little Silver | Little Silver | |
| 20 | Oceanport | Monmouth Park | |
| 22.5 | Long Branch | Long Branch | Academy Bus: Route 36 line NJT Bus: 831, 837 |
| 24.5 | Elberon | ||
| 26.5 | Allenhurst | Allenhurst | NJT Bus: 837 |
| 28 | Asbury Park | Asbury Park | Academy Bus: Shore Points line NJT Bus: 317, 830, 832, 836, 837 |
| 29 | Bradley Beach | Bradley Beach | Academy Bus: Shore Points line NJT Bus: 317, 830 |
| 31 | Belmar | Belmar | Academy Bus NJT Bus: 317, 830 |
| 33 | Spring Lake | Spring Lake | Academy Bus: Shore Points line NJT Bus: 317, 830 |
| 35 | Manasquan | Manasquan | Academy Bus NJT Bus: 317, 830 |
| 37 | Point Pleasant Beach | Point Pleasant Beach | Academy Bus: Shore Points line NJT Bus: 317, 830 |
| 38 | Bay Head | Bay Head |
See also
New York and Long Branch Railroad
References
- ^ New Jersey Transit rail boarding numbers 2007-1999 Berkeley Retrieved 2008-06-28
- ^ "Asbury Park main street redevelopment plan". City of Asbury Park. September 2008. p. 35. http://www.cityofasburypark.com/filestorage/80/178/version7_Revised092308.pdf. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ Nina Rizzo (2 May 2002). "Pollution study sought on Bay Head rail yard plan". Asbury Park Press. http://octrainguy.com/BHyardupgrades.html. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
External links
- Videos of the passing trains of the North Jersey Coast Line, by Eric K.
- North Jersey Coast Line Maps & Proposals on Google Maps
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