Re: (erielack) Newark Airport rail service - Bergen Record

["Gary R. Kazin" <gkazin_@_yahoo.com>]

- --- mike1144_@_frontiernet.net wrote:
> I have been reading in the local paper (I live in Orange County New
> York) about the Secacus Transfer and how it will relate to the Port
> Jervis line.
> 
> Does anyone have the details about the station and where it will go in
> mid-town?  I've heard that it will not be open until end of next year
> and I've heard early next year - does anyone know which is right?


Secaucus Transfer is located where the NEC crosses over the Bergen County
and Main lines.  The Boonton Line goes under the NEC to the west, and
because the Montclair Connection is under construction (and the Boonton
Line won't run this way in less than a year), it isn't included.  

The idea is to provide a transfer among the three rail lines to help
people get where they need to go.  This is especially important for the
former Erie lines, which only go to Hoboken.  Most people heading for
midtown take busses to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and have much
shorter trips than taking the train to Hoboken and then the PATH back
north.  The connection will be between existing NJT-operated train
services running from New York Penn Station (to Trenton, Long Branch, and
Dover) and the Main, Bergen County and Pascack Valley Lines.  Because it
is only 5 minutes by rail from New York, you will need to have a ticket to
reach the NEC platforms.  There won't be time during rush hour to do it,
even if the trainmen could get through the train to do it.  I don't know
how they will handle it westbound.

Part of the uncertainty about when it will open is caused by other
projects at Penn Station.  One is the signal upgrade, which will allow
three more trains per hour to cross the Hudson.  They are badly needed. 
The other is the East End Concourse, which will improve circulation of NJT
passengers between the street and the platforms.  It is being built now in
the southeast part of the station and will provide additional stairs,
escalators and elevators to the platforms.  It will have to be done before
Secaucus can open, or there will simply be too many people for the current
waiting area.

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