ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — N.J. Transit dedicated its first multilevel rail cars to nine communities served by the state’s commuter rail system.
At a Nov. 15 ceremony during the League of Municipalities gathering at the Atlantic City Convention Center, the cars were dedicated in recognition of the strong ties between N.J. Transit and the host communities of Trenton, Hamilton, West Windsor, Edison, Rahway, Woodbridge, Elizabeth, Newark and Summit.
Each of the 234 multilevel cars will display a commemorative plaque in honor of a community served by the rail network as they are delivered over the next two years.
“These municipalities recognize the importance of public transportation—both to their own residents and to New Jersey as a whole,” said Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, Chairman of the Transportation and Public Works Committee, who suggested the idea of a dedication program. “We are honoring both the municipalities and the important role N.J. Transit plays in the communities it serves.”
The first multilevel train is scheduled to make its debut for customers on Dec. 11 with a trip on the Northeast Corridor from Trenton to New York Penn Station.
“In a time of record-high ridership levels, these cars will represent a new level of capacity and convenience for our customers,” said New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri.
“The fleet of multilevel rail cars is a critical step to provide near-term capacity relief while we work to build the Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel,” N.J. Transit Executive Director George D. Warrington said. “This investment will provide the capacity to meet growing ridership and relieve congestion on our roads and highways.”
“These cars stand out from our single-level rail cars in a number of ways,” said N.J. Transit Board Member Flora Castillo, who hosted today’s event. “Along with an array of customer-inspired amenities, they are the first N.J. Transit cars to offer a two-by-two seating configuration that eliminates the middle seat.”
— Special to Railfanning.org News Wire
