NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES CONTINUED RIVER LINE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNICATION IMPROVEMENTS
Customer Experience Upgrades Include Renovated Vehicle Interiors, Special Wrap Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday With Special Graphics
January 9, 2026
TRENTON, NJ – NJ TRANSIT continues to perform a series of upgrades on systems and equipment on the River LINE as the agency continues the transition to take over the operations and maintenance from the current contractor. NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri was joined by New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo and Senator Troy Singleton to unveil the first vehicle to feature a fully renovated passenger compartment and a recent engine overhaul as part of continuing efforts to enhance the customer experience and improve service reliability. To mark the milestone, the first vehicle is wrapped in graphics celebrating America’s 250th birthday being observed this year.
“As we finalize the process of assuming operation of the River LINE, every upgrade we’re making is focused on improving reliability, communications and the customer experience,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “This work builds on the systemwide modernization already underway across our bus and rail fleets, as we also maintain an equal commitment to investing in the quality of commute for our light rail customers.”
“Safety and security remain the top priority for NJ TRANSIT on River LINE and throughout the NJ TRANSIT system,” said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “New Jersey Transit Police remain visible and work with our law enforcement partners on the local, county, state and federal levels to coordinate our efforts statewide. We encourage customers to report any suspicious activity by calling 888-TIPS-NJT or texting NJTPD (65873).”
“The River LINE is a vital connector for residents and businesses across South Jersey,” said Senator Troy Singleton (LD-7). “Investments like these not only enhance the quality and reliability of service but also reaffirm NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to strengthening our region’s infrastructure and supporting economic growth. I remain hopeful that these are the types of improvements we will continue to see in the months ahead.”
As part of the transition from the current contractor, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors authorized NJ TRANSIT to enter into a contract with Kinkisharyo International LLC for the maintenance of the River LINE fleet vehicles. NJ TRANSIT will assume oversight of the River LINE service, the maintenance of the right-of-way, and the light rail station maintenance. After several years of working closely together to assess the conditions of the River LINE, NJ TRANSIT and its contractor Alstom began to transition the light rail system to NJ TRANSIT in early September. The transition will be fully complete in the first quarter of this year. The transition enables NJ TRANSIT to be best positioned to shape and implement the next steps that will strengthen and enhance the future of the service.
NJ TRANSIT is working with Kinkisharyo to completely rehabilitate the interior passenger areas of the vehicles. Improvements include new LED lighting, replaced seating, new flooring, updated signage and more to significantly enhance the on-board customer experience. In addition, Kinkisharyo is performing a top-to-bottom set of inspections on the light rail vehicles to ensure they remain in a state of good repair. NJ TRANSIT plans to upgrade 14 light rail vehicles as part of this program, as the agency works concurrently to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) to fully replace the entire River LINE fleet.
As part of the continuing enhancements, NJ TRANSIT has also installed real-time arrival information on the River LINE platforms to improve customer information. River LINE customers now have access to live departure times at every station and through the NJ TRANSIT mobile app. They can track River LINE vehicles in real time, allowing them to monitor any impacts on service more accurately.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 264 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.