NJ Transit said it continues to perform a series of upgrades to systems and equipment on the River LINE as the agency transitions to take over operations and maintenance from the current contractor.
NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri was joined by NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo and New Jersey Sen. 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 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 condition of the River LINE, NJ Transit and its contractor, Alstom, began transitioning the light rail system to NJ Transit in early September. The transition will be fully complete in the first quarter of this year. NJ Transit officials said the transition enables the agency to be best positioned to shape and implement the next steps that will strengthen and enhance the service’s future.
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 conducting a top-to-bottom inspection of 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, while concurrently developing a Request for Proposal 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, enabling them to monitor service impacts more accurately.
Be the first to comment