NJ Transit’s River Line is now slated to begin passenger service along the 34-mile Trenton-Camden route on March 14.
By: Scott Morgan
Once again, opening day for NJ Transit’s beleaguered $1.1 billion River Line train has been pushed back, this time for 30 days.
River Line is now slated to begin passenger service along the 34-mile Trenton-Camden route on March 14. The delay is the latest of several postponements dating back to 2002.
According to NJ Transit, the latest delay is due to concern that operations are simply not ready. Executive Director George Warrington lamented the delay, saying that a number of issues namely timing and nearly a dozen crossing gate malfunctions have arisen during what was expected to be the final month’s testing and simulated-run period. Recent bouts of severe weather are partly to blame, transit officials said.
"Looking at the contractor’s (Southern New Jersey Rail Group, LLC) readiness … it is absolutely clear to me that the system will not be ready to run on Feb. 15," said Mr. Warrington. "I won’t force them out of the gate when I know it will result in unreliable service and disappointed customers."
In July, Florence motorists experienced firsthand the faulty gate on Delaware Avenue, which at random times would drop onto vehicles crossing the tracks there.
NJ Transit officials originally announced the line would open in 2002, but rising construction costs, technical difficulties and local outcry over high train speeds eventually pushed the expected opening date back to autumn 2003. In June, NJ Transit announced operations would commence in early 2004. A Feb. 15 launch was announced in October.
NJ Transit said it has been assured by SNJ Rail Group that service will be ready by March 14 and has added engineers and inspectors to the project to ensure that things will start rolling on that date. Over the next few weeks, officials said, SNJ Rail Group will complete the testing program, including last-minute adjustments and simulated runs for 16 hours a day.