PASCACK VALLEY LINE CUSTOMERS TO GET IMPROVED SERVICE THIS FALL
NJ TRANSIT and Metro-North announce new off-peak and weekend service beginning October 28
August 16, 2007
NJT-07-079
NEWARK, NJ ¿ Pascack Valley Line customers will benefit from 121 new trains per week, including bi-directional, off-peak and weekend rail service for the first time¿as a result of new ¿passing sidings¿ constructed along the single-track line.
Starting October 28, NJ TRANSIT will offer 15 new weekday trains¿eight inbound to Secaucus and Hoboken and seven outbound¿nearly doubling the level of service on the line. Of the additional weekday trains, one inbound and two outbound will operate in the evening, including a late-night train, with the remainder of the new service offered midday.
Also for the first time, customers will benefit from weekend service, with 23 trains operating on Saturdays and 23 on Sundays¿11 inbound to Hoboken and 12 outbound each day.
¿These passing sidings have enabled us to address the limitations that have long been posed by the Pascack Valley Line¿s single track configuration,¿ said New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri. ¿Bringing more rail service into Bergen County will encourage more people to leave their cars behind.¿
¿Working together with Metro-North, we will be able to offer bi-directional and off-peak rail service to our Pascack Valley Line riders in Bergen and Rockland counties for the very first time, making public transportation a more attractive option,¿ said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. ¿This project offers expanded travel opportunities in the near term, while paving the way for future improvements that will come with the construction of a new trans-Hudson commuter rail tunnel.¿
¿The introduction of midday, evening and weekend service on MTA Metro-North Railroad's Pascack Valley Line will make mass transit much more attractive and convenient for all Rocklanders,¿ said MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot Sander. ¿The MTA's commitment to infrastructure improvement in our West-of-Hudson territory in the form of an entirely new train fleet, refurbished stations and expanded parking is matched by this significant service improvement. We hope Rocklanders rush to take advantage of these improvements.¿
¿The introduction of off-peak and weekend service makes the train a more appealing and enjoyable way to travel and commute,¿ said Carl Wortendyke, Rockland's representative on the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. ¿Boosting the number of trains on Metro-North¿s Pascack Valley Line is the culmination of years of work - building the passing sidings, purchasing an entirely new fleet of trains and the renovation of our three Rockland County train stations - Spring Valley, Nanuet and Pearl River.¿
¿We are pleased to have contributed to making these long-awaited service improvements a reality for our customers,¿ said Metro-North President Peter Cannito. ¿With the level of service on the line essentially doubled, we can offer increased flexibility to our Rockland County commuters traveling to and from work, while opening up new opportunities for leisure travel for both new and existing customers.¿
The service improvements are made possible by three ¿passing sidings¿ constructed along the alignment in Hasbrouck Heights and Hackensack, NJ and Nanuet, NY. The passing sidings enable trains operating in opposite directions to pass one another on a short stretch of double track.
¿We welcome the new off-peak and weekend trains that will soon be serving our community, presenting our residents with more travel options and flexibility,¿ said Wood-Ridge Mayor and State Senator Paul A. Sarlo.
¿The additional Pascack Valley Line service is a highly anticipated improvement for the Borough, and we look forward to the expanded travel opportunities it will offer our residents,¿ said River Edge Mayor Margaret Falahee Watkins.
¿The introduction of weekend trains to Montvale opens up new choices for leisure travel, and our residents are looking forward to taking advantage of the increased level of service,¿ said Montvale Mayor George B. Zeller.
In December 2004, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors approved construction of the Pascack Valley Line passing sidings to provide enhanced rail service. Construction on the project began in spring 2005.
Currently, all trains on the Pascack Valley Line¿which serves approximately 7,700 trips on a typical weekday between Hoboken Terminal and Spring Valley, NY¿must operate on a single track, limiting service to one direction. Metro-North provides operating support for service to the three stations in New York: Pearl River, Nanuet and Spring Valley.
About Metro-North Railroad
MTA Metro-North Railroad is a regional transportation provider with 385 route miles, two ferries and numerous feeder bus services that provides 265,000 rides a day on 700 trains each weekday in seven counties in New York State and two counties in Connecticut with an on-time performance of 97.6 percent.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 857,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.