through Burlington County to the Amtrak/NJ Transit station at Trenton. A 2·4 km extension in the state capital to the State House is planned.
The River Line is operated by a fleet of 20 Stadler-Bombardier GTW2/6 diesel railcars. Revenue service began on March 14, with twin-unit operation to handle over 10000 passengers. The LRVs run at 30min intervals from 06.00 to 21.00 each day, but late night services are only provided on Saturdays as the line is still used at night by CSX freight trains during the week.
Interchange with Patco services to Philadelphia and Lindenwold is provided at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden; for the first two weeks Patco offered a free transfer to River Line ticket holders.
MARCH 13 saw the formal inauguration of the 51 km Southern New Jersey LRT between Camden and Trenton. Governor James McGreevey joined NJ Transit officials and local politicians for the ceremony at the Trenton terminus before the invited guests rode the inaugural train to Camden.
Although the controversial $1bn project was almost a year behind schedule, State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere told the guests ’this is a wonderful day’. McGreevey admitted that ’there were challenges’ but described the route as ’a sensible investment in our future’.
Marketed by NJ Transit as the River Line, the route parallelling the Delaware River incorporates the Camden & Amboy Railroad which opened in 1832 and was closed to passengers in 1963. It runs from Camden’s entertainment district through Burlington County to the Amtrak/NJ Transit station at Trenton. A 2·4 km extension in the state capital to the State House is planned.
The River Line is operated by a fleet of 20 Stadler-Bombardier GTW2/6 diesel railcars. Revenue service began on March 14, with twin-unit operation to handle over 10000 passengers. The LRVs run at 30min intervals from 06.00 to 21.00 each day, but late night services are only provided on Saturdays as the line is still used at night by CSX freight trains during the week.
Interchange with Patco services to Philadelphia and Lindenwold is provided at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden; for the first two weeks Patco offered a free transfer to River Line ticket holders.
CAPTION: The two units forming the first revenue service on the River Line stand at Aquarium station close to Camden’s waterfront on March 14 Photo: Bob Vogel
