I stumbled on a page that has some pictures of the Hudson-
Bergen Light Rail construction...
deep under the streets of Union City. I imagine that progress is quite a bit further along (these pictures are from October), since the line is supposed to open up in the fall/winter time frame. (
See also my previous musings on the
HiBLeR) There are some really cool views of what will become the first underground "subway" station to be built in New Jersey in almost 100 years.
With the eminent death of the
NJ Transportation Trust Fund... it could very well be the last for another 100 years.
2 Comments:
Is septa planning on using DMU technology? As I navitaged through a series of links, I found pictures of DMU trains, one of which was Septa, I don't know if that is a future plan, or something that is already in use. But their sleek new look could do a lot for an aging Philadelphia transportation system, that will require a major overhaul in attempt to get the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The company who makes the MDU trains is Colorado Railcar. It's a really cool technology that would work well on NJ's Atlantic City line... maybe the RiverLINE (f the turns aren't too sharp for it) and definitely on the West Trenton line. They have all the flexibility of traditional diesel trains - but have the fuel economy and quick acceleration of diesel light rail.
NJT is going to use them on the Bergen County northern branch. It's not really a good fit there, because that line doesn't really go anywhere, if it's not an extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail. With DMU, they get a one seat ride to the end of the HBLR... the City of North Bergen. Since nobody will be taking a train just from Bergen County to North Bergen... they'll have to switch for another train to where they really want to go, Hoboken or Jersey City - and from there switch for NYC.
As for Philly - maybe it would be good for the stupid Schuylkill valley metro POS... because they wouldn't have to electrify the tracks... but wouldn't really make sense in areas that are already powered (so... don't expect it in any part of the existing regional rail system).
The photos on the Colorado Railcar site are just really for marketing - I don't think they have basis in even proposed projects (other than the Bergen County project).
Like I said before... for NJ - these should be running maybe from Atlantic City to Philly - maybe on the RiverLINE (including AC to Trenton)... definitely on the West Trenton line and definitely on the Cape May Branch - which would connect to the AC line.
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