October 15, 2018
NJ Transit/Facebook
NJ Transit is making some safety updates that will limit service now through early 2019.
Plan for some changes to your commute if you're a regular rider of New Jersey Transit.
The transit agency announced it is undergoing federally mandated safety upgrades to its rail systems. Trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Morris & Essex Lines, Montclair-Boonton, and Main and Bergen County Lines will see changing schedules and reduced service beginning this week. About two dozen trains are affected.
Beginning next month, fares will be cut by 10 percent for the inconvenience. The discount will last through January, when the safety updates are planned for completion.
Despite the annoyance these updates may cause for daily commutes, the updates are for a cause that could help make trains run more effectively in the future. After the upgrades, NJ Transit will have positive train control, or PTC, which uses GPS to create an emergency braking system that can prevent derailments and collisions.
Oct. 14th - early 2019, NJ TRANSIT will continue to accelerate the installation of PTC equipment along our system & make final rail service adjustments. NJ TRANSIT will offer a 10% discount for all rail tickets/passes during Nov. Dec. & Jan. More info: https://t.co/3RQXqV4UrT pic.twitter.com/GtYGR2S4jU
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) September 20, 2018
It's been 10 years since Congress made the mandate calling for trains to have PTC. The original deadline for implementation was 2015, but that deadline was extended to the end of 2018. Right now only a third of NJ Transit trains have the required safety upgrades.
Inbound and outbound trains between Trenton and Newark/New York have been temporarily discontinued and alternate routes are available. Keep track of the changes and plan your trip on the NJ Transit Twitter page and on NJTransit.com.
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