The Atlantic City Line: New Jersey Transit UNIQUE service
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-de-fault_de-fault
I've never ridden the AC line, being from North Jersey, but I think it would be more popular if it didn't have to go so far out of the way to reach 30th Street Philadelphia. The weird routing goes all the way back to the PRR days because it was cheaper to build a bridge on the outskirts of Philadelphia than have a Delaware River crossing closer to the center. A few thoughts on the train itself:
The flippable seats come from the fact that Americans for whatever reason tend to get upset if we're facing backward on a train. It doesn't bother me at all, but some people can't stand it. It seems they've decided not to worry about that anymore, based on the fixed seats in the Multilevels, which I think makes more sense. But even the pairs of seats in Amtrak's Amfleet cars can be slid into the aisle, spun about an axis, and then pushed back into place. This is meant to be done by staff only, at the end of a trip, but it's the same basic idea.
The Comet II you walked through is nearly 40 years old, but was refurbished about 20 years ago to have the interior match the then-newish Comet IVs like the one you ended up riding in (delivered in 1996. Neither have aged particularly well. The Comet V's are also about 20 years old, too, but look much more modern. They are the only Comet fleet whose cab cars are still usable, so every Comet train has at least one. For some reason NJT has seen fit to use the non-cab Comet V's almost exclusively on the Hoboken division, which has very few high-platform stations, so the center doors are useless, and which generally has much lower ridership. If I were in charge I would send all the Comet II's to the Hoboken division and run full sets of Comet Vs on the Newark division. The AC line is an outlier, but I'd let it have some Comet V's, too, since it doesn't use that many cars anyway.
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I've never ridden the AC line, being from North Jersey, but I think it would be more popular if it didn't have to go so far out of the way to reach 30th Street Philadelphia. The weird routing goes all the way back to the PRR days because it was cheaper to build a bridge on the outskirts of Philadelphia than have a Delaware River crossing closer to the center. A few thoughts on the train itself:
The flippable seats come from the fact that Americans for whatever reason tend to get upset if we're facing backward on a train. It doesn't bother me at all, but some people can't stand it. It seems they've decided not to worry about that anymore, based on the fixed seats in the Multilevels, which I think makes more sense. But even the pairs of seats in Amtrak's Amfleet cars can be slid into the aisle, spun about an axis, and then pushed back into place. This is meant to be done by staff only, at the end of a trip, but it's the same basic idea.
The Comet II you walked through is nearly 40 years old, but was refurbished about 20 years ago to have the interior match the then-newish Comet IVs like the one you ended up riding in (delivered in 1996. Neither have aged particularly well. The Comet V's are also about 20 years old, too, but look much more modern. They are the only Comet fleet whose cab cars are still usable, so every Comet train has at least one. For some reason NJT has seen fit to use the non-cab Comet V's almost exclusively on the Hoboken division, which has very few high-platform stations, so the center doors are useless, and which generally has much lower ridership. If I were in charge I would send all the Comet II's to the Hoboken division and run full sets of Comet Vs on the Newark division. The AC line is an outlier, but I'd let it have some Comet V's, too, since it doesn't use that many cars anyway.
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-MillerMeteor74
I live in Mullica Township near the Atlantic City Line. On September 21, 1989 a friend took me on a round trip on the that line from Lindenwold to Atlantic City and back. To my knowledge Lindenwold was the end of the line, and from Lindenwold to Philadelphia you rode a PATCO train, which we never did. A few times in the 90s my family and I boarded in Egg Harbor City to take the train to AC for a huge antique show. Occasionally I shoot photos and/or video of the train as it stops at the Egg Harbor City station. Usually there are 4 cars, but on occasion I have seen trains with 5. I like the locomotives they use.
9: 05 Wouldn't it make sense to flip the seats for when the train goes backward when going the opposite direction? Anyway, I enjoyed the ride. Thanks.
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I live in Mullica Township near the Atlantic City Line. On September 21, 1989 a friend took me on a round trip on the that line from Lindenwold to Atlantic City and back. To my knowledge Lindenwold was the end of the line, and from Lindenwold to Philadelphia you rode a PATCO train, which we never did. A few times in the 90s my family and I boarded in Egg Harbor City to take the train to AC for a huge antique show. Occasionally I shoot photos and/or video of the train as it stops at the Egg Harbor City station. Usually there are 4 cars, but on occasion I have seen trains with 5. I like the locomotives they use.
9: 05 Wouldn't it make sense to flip the seats for when the train goes backward when going the opposite direction? Anyway, I enjoyed the ride. Thanks.
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-timothygorman7528
The -flipping of seats- also allows for groups; but the AC Line pulls one way, and pushes the other, so it can accommodate forward seating if desired. It's a good line, but I prefer to take Patco out of Philly and connect in Lindenwald - a shorter ride, and I think less expensive. The trip into and out of philly is kind of a round about way to do it, coming in from the north, circling way out to the west before joining the lines going into 30th St Station; Patco provides a straight shot over the Ben Franklin Bridge right into 8th St, where you can transfer onto the Market Frankford Line and get anywhere you want to go.
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The -flipping of seats- also allows for groups; but the AC Line pulls one way, and pushes the other, so it can accommodate forward seating if desired. It's a good line, but I prefer to take Patco out of Philly and connect in Lindenwald - a shorter ride, and I think less expensive. The trip into and out of philly is kind of a round about way to do it, coming in from the north, circling way out to the west before joining the lines going into 30th St Station; Patco provides a straight shot over the Ben Franklin Bridge right into 8th St, where you can transfer onto the Market Frankford Line and get anywhere you want to go.
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-henryhuber8485
I really just love - NJ Transit trains so much. They are my favorite. My most favorite NJ transit lines are the Northeast corridor line from Trenton to New York City and the Atlantic City Line from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. If I had to choose one NJ transit train to ride or work on all the time it would be the Atlantic City Rail Line because it is the most relaxed and comfortable train ride to go on and the conductors and passengers are very nice and really like the GP40PH -2 locomotives and the single level comet v passenger cars. Very reliable so all of you should go ride it from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.
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I really just love - NJ Transit trains so much. They are my favorite. My most favorite NJ transit lines are the Northeast corridor line from Trenton to New York City and the Atlantic City Line from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. If I had to choose one NJ transit train to ride or work on all the time it would be the Atlantic City Rail Line because it is the most relaxed and comfortable train ride to go on and the conductors and passengers are very nice and really like the GP40PH -2 locomotives and the single level comet v passenger cars. Very reliable so all of you should go ride it from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.
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train
I hope you get to do the PATCO train. We just call it the Speedline here. It's just a small commuter train, really, linking the suburbs in Southern NJ(Camden County) to Center City Philly. We locals use it constantly to have to avoid parking in the city. :D Plus of course, work and school, since you can access Rutgers University in Camden.
The entire trip, if you aren't on an express, take about 30 minutes at most. Express is used during rush hour on work days, but not every train. It's a bit pricey when you consider the difference, but I'm willing to bet most companies pay part if not all for their employees.
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I hope you get to do the PATCO train. We just call it the Speedline here. It's just a small commuter train, really, linking the suburbs in Southern NJ(Camden County) to Center City Philly. We locals use it constantly to have to avoid parking in the city. :D Plus of course, work and school, since you can access Rutgers University in Camden.
The entire trip, if you aren't on an express, take about 30 minutes at most. Express is used during rush hour on work days, but not every train. It's a bit pricey when you consider the difference, but I'm willing to bet most companies pay part if not all for their employees.
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train
Another thing worth noting here is that the Atlantic City Line isn't so much a money making rail corridor seeing as it hasn't been since the 2012 period after the huge ridership decrease. The ACL is a necessity for local South Jersey folk that can't afford a car and see driving as an inconvenience to their needs. And the motive power the Atlantic City Line has used for decades are among the most reliable locomotives in NJTs current revenue fleet. I don't mean to be biased here but the GP40s may look old however when maintained properly they have durability compared to a piece of diamond.
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Another thing worth noting here is that the Atlantic City Line isn't so much a money making rail corridor seeing as it hasn't been since the 2012 period after the huge ridership decrease. The ACL is a necessity for local South Jersey folk that can't afford a car and see driving as an inconvenience to their needs. And the motive power the Atlantic City Line has used for decades are among the most reliable locomotives in NJTs current revenue fleet. I don't mean to be biased here but the GP40s may look old however when maintained properly they have durability compared to a piece of diamond.
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-russellgxy2905
Unique fact about that particular GP40PH-2. The B sublettering on the cabside denotes it was actually rebuilt _by_ Conrail for use in commuter service. Earlier units were rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen, and have an A subletting
Even stranger, 4201 is technically older than the -vintage- GP40PH's, 4101, 2 and 9. The latter locos were built in 1968, but were built from the start to work passenger trains. Hell they used to use steam to heat their trains
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Unique fact about that particular GP40PH-2. The B sublettering on the cabside denotes it was actually rebuilt _by_ Conrail for use in commuter service. Earlier units were rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen, and have an A subletting
Even stranger, 4201 is technically older than the -vintage- GP40PH's, 4101, 2 and 9. The latter locos were built in 1968, but were built from the start to work passenger trains. Hell they used to use steam to heat their trains
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-eyestoenvy
I never got the opportunity to ride ACES from NYC, it was fine by the time I started visiting AC and so I had to rely on Academy Bus & greyhound instead. Now Greyhound is the ONLY express service option left from NYC! And they no longer permit you an open return ticket of up to 4 days, forcing you to schedule a return day/time on upon booking your trip. Not to mention their rather steeeeeeep prices and much more limited schedule. Sucks!
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I never got the opportunity to ride ACES from NYC, it was fine by the time I started visiting AC and so I had to rely on Academy Bus & greyhound instead. Now Greyhound is the ONLY express service option left from NYC! And they no longer permit you an open return ticket of up to 4 days, forcing you to schedule a return day/time on upon booking your trip. Not to mention their rather steeeeeeep prices and much more limited schedule. Sucks!
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-jerseyboyz2265
I have road nj transit many times before and road in these exact cars there are plugs at the seats at the beginning of the cars I remember people would occasionally get into fights over them coming back from sporting events it would be nice if they did that and added light sockets at every seat I ride the septa train now That I live in PA but over the summer I take the nj transit a lot to go to Atlantic City to visit the shore still
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I have road nj transit many times before and road in these exact cars there are plugs at the seats at the beginning of the cars I remember people would occasionally get into fights over them coming back from sporting events it would be nice if they did that and added light sockets at every seat I ride the septa train now That I live in PA but over the summer I take the nj transit a lot to go to Atlantic City to visit the shore still
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train
I love this line because it has my favorite NJT engine, the GP40PH-2B. I love the EMD sounds and the power of them, as well as the nostalgia. And I think I am the only one who prefers the single level to multilevel coaches. They can seat more people in a party on one side due to the 3-2 seating, and they have the more traditional passenger car look. The Geeps are iconic to NJT, I don-t want to see them go.
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I love this line because it has my favorite NJT engine, the GP40PH-2B. I love the EMD sounds and the power of them, as well as the nostalgia. And I think I am the only one who prefers the single level to multilevel coaches. They can seat more people in a party on one side due to the 3-2 seating, and they have the more traditional passenger car look. The Geeps are iconic to NJT, I don-t want to see them go.
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-Aiijuin
I love this line. It-s local for me. Pick up the -dinky- in Atco and ride it to 30th Street Station, then transfer to the R2 or R4 for the Philly Airport when I travel. I love the fact that it-s an old diesel train. So much cooler than the usual box electric engines. I also take this for Amtrak as well. I wish they-d keep more hours in the winter months, instead of cutting them back at Atco.
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I love this line. It-s local for me. Pick up the -dinky- in Atco and ride it to 30th Street Station, then transfer to the R2 or R4 for the Philly Airport when I travel. I love the fact that it-s an old diesel train. So much cooler than the usual box electric engines. I also take this for Amtrak as well. I wish they-d keep more hours in the winter months, instead of cutting them back at Atco.
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train
On all Comet consists across the New Jersey Transit network, Comet Vs will always be the cab car. In general, the other cars can either be a mixture of Comet II-IVs (as seen in this 3-car Atlantic City line train, and it can go up to around 8-10 on other lines, or other Comet Vs in a consist of all Comet Vs, up to only about 5 cars. It's rare to see Comet Vs in the middle of a consist.
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On all Comet consists across the New Jersey Transit network, Comet Vs will always be the cab car. In general, the other cars can either be a mixture of Comet II-IVs (as seen in this 3-car Atlantic City line train, and it can go up to around 8-10 on other lines, or other Comet Vs in a consist of all Comet Vs, up to only about 5 cars. It's rare to see Comet Vs in the middle of a consist.
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-MLampner
The seats flip so people can face forward no matter which way the train is traveling since these trains simply run back and forth, hence the cab car so the rear becomes the front in the opposite direction. Many people fell motion sick traveling backwards. As to the scenery you are crossing the pine barrens a unique landscape and until recently a very rural set of communities.
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The seats flip so people can face forward no matter which way the train is traveling since these trains simply run back and forth, hence the cab car so the rear becomes the front in the opposite direction. Many people fell motion sick traveling backwards. As to the scenery you are crossing the pine barrens a unique landscape and until recently a very rural set of communities.
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-alimazimmer3819
I enjoy travelling on this line. The scenery is beautiful. Part of the ride takes you through the Pine Barrens. The rail personnel are very professional This line has taken me to several locations during the past few years. While I am not particular about Atlantic City, I have been very successful reaching other locations. Thank you for your post.
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I enjoy travelling on this line. The scenery is beautiful. Part of the ride takes you through the Pine Barrens. The rail personnel are very professional This line has taken me to several locations during the past few years. While I am not particular about Atlantic City, I have been very successful reaching other locations. Thank you for your post.
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-flipfloptraveler
Haha this is NJT crapping on Atlantic City and Philly. I grew up in North NJ and used to ride those old coaches in the 80s and 90s. Haven't lived in the US for around 8 years but even before I left all rolling stock in my area was 100% new double decker models. Haven't seen one of those cars with the black stripe in ages.
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Haha this is NJT crapping on Atlantic City and Philly. I grew up in North NJ and used to ride those old coaches in the 80s and 90s. Haven't lived in the US for around 8 years but even before I left all rolling stock in my area was 100% new double decker models. Haven't seen one of those cars with the black stripe in ages.
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-jamesbarrett918
Looking at the number of passengers, it doesn't seem to be worthwhile to continue providing service on that line.
90 minutes is too long for a 65 mile ride. However, if they want to continue with service, it would be a good candidate for electrification and high speed rail with no stops between Philly and AC.
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Looking at the number of passengers, it doesn't seem to be worthwhile to continue providing service on that line.
90 minutes is too long for a 65 mile ride. However, if they want to continue with service, it would be a good candidate for electrification and high speed rail with no stops between Philly and AC.
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-ccmgoalie35
Those are older cars build before phones and every need to charge them. that line and the Hackettstown to Hoboken have those cars mostly and they had the flip seats for what direction train was going the ppl faced that way. or if train didn-t get full or emptied out most conductors were ok if u flipped them
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Those are older cars build before phones and every need to charge them. that line and the Hackettstown to Hoboken have those cars mostly and they had the flip seats for what direction train was going the ppl faced that way. or if train didn-t get full or emptied out most conductors were ok if u flipped them
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-19acouto92
For a cheap ticket and fairly convenient service you-re asking lot for nicer coaches and power outlets. It-s a short trip on a line with low ridership since driving down there takes about the same amount of time (even without tolls) and is actually cheaper on tolls than a ticket in the off-season.
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For a cheap ticket and fairly convenient service you-re asking lot for nicer coaches and power outlets. It-s a short trip on a line with low ridership since driving down there takes about the same amount of time (even without tolls) and is actually cheaper on tolls than a ticket in the off-season.
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train
I used to commute on NJT in the early '80s between Suffern, NY and Hoboken. There was a group of four men who would flip the seats to face each other and they would take down one of the cardboard ad placards from the end of the car and lay it across their laps and they would play cards the whole trip.
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I used to commute on NJT in the early '80s between Suffern, NY and Hoboken. There was a group of four men who would flip the seats to face each other and they would take down one of the cardboard ad placards from the end of the car and lay it across their laps and they would play cards the whole trip.
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train
6: 07 I can agree that not having the Comet V isn-t really cool. I often take the train from Point Pleasant Beach station up to Newark Penn, and on the PPB-Long Branch leg the Comet V car is never open, but on the Long Branch-NY Penn they are open. It-s odd since the V-s are way more comfy.
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6: 07 I can agree that not having the Comet V isn-t really cool. I often take the train from Point Pleasant Beach station up to Newark Penn, and on the PPB-Long Branch leg the Comet V car is never open, but on the Long Branch-NY Penn they are open. It-s odd since the V-s are way more comfy.
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-Spaceshotx7
You're saying since 9/11, access to platforms at Atlantic City is restricted? Are tickets checked at the platform entrance prior to boarding, and are tickets not sold on the train departing Atlantic City? Does NJT also check tickets at Philadelphia prior to boarding as well?
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You're saying since 9/11, access to platforms at Atlantic City is restricted? Are tickets checked at the platform entrance prior to boarding, and are tickets not sold on the train departing Atlantic City? Does NJT also check tickets at Philadelphia prior to boarding as well?
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-mizu_the_floatzel
As someone from New Jersey I wish at times there's a train that goes from New York City directly to Atlantic City well they did it was a short live experiment train and it only departed from Penn station making it inconvenient to anyone else who wanted to go down to AC
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As someone from New Jersey I wish at times there's a train that goes from New York City directly to Atlantic City well they did it was a short live experiment train and it only departed from Penn station making it inconvenient to anyone else who wanted to go down to AC
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-marvwatkins7029
Flipped seats were standard on North Americans commuter trains. Here a party of six can converse and otherwise people do tend to like to face in the direction they're going. But their expensive to maintain, so they're disappearing. See now?
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Flipped seats were standard on North Americans commuter trains. Here a party of six can converse and otherwise people do tend to like to face in the direction they're going. But their expensive to maintain, so they're disappearing. See now?
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-NewYorkRawVideos
take the njtransit river line light rail, it's a diesel tram train. goes from camden to trenton. you can get the patco train at the broadway station (called the walter rand transportation center on the nj transit side)
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take the njtransit river line light rail, it's a diesel tram train. goes from camden to trenton. you can get the patco train at the broadway station (called the walter rand transportation center on the nj transit side)
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-980cbro
At the end of the line they flip the seats so the passengers are always facing forward since the car will be gong in the opposite direction from whence it came. The old LA streetcars did the same thing at the end of the line.
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At the end of the line they flip the seats so the passengers are always facing forward since the car will be gong in the opposite direction from whence it came. The old LA streetcars did the same thing at the end of the line.
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-marvwatkins7029
It maybe unattractive and thereare no power points, but you need to understand: it's all about cost and budgets and priorities. Why retrofit an old car with plugs if you're going to sell it or scrap it in a few years?
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It maybe unattractive and thereare no power points, but you need to understand: it's all about cost and budgets and priorities. Why retrofit an old car with plugs if you're going to sell it or scrap it in a few years?
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-redriverwave
Weren-t many of the rolling stock on NJT severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy? A major error by the former President of NJT was committed by not securing the rolling stock from the harshest elements of the storm.
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Weren-t many of the rolling stock on NJT severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy? A major error by the former President of NJT was committed by not securing the rolling stock from the harshest elements of the storm.
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-trevorrdavies
I was on that train yesterday and it looked like the same rolling stock as in this video. I took the train coming back from a bike-a-thon. Staff let the cyclists stow their bikes in the three seater seats.
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I was on that train yesterday and it looked like the same rolling stock as in this video. I took the train coming back from a bike-a-thon. Staff let the cyclists stow their bikes in the three seater seats.
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-mattheww2797
Looks like where old trains go to die, not using that cab car anymore ok we'll just shove it in the middle of a consist, 50 year old engines, sure we'll beat the snot out of them till their completely dead
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Looks like where old trains go to die, not using that cab car anymore ok we'll just shove it in the middle of a consist, 50 year old engines, sure we'll beat the snot out of them till their completely dead
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-BoredBricks
The reason the seats can be flipped in the opposite direction is that if the train reaches the end of a line, they don't have to switch the whole train around to have the seats facing the right way.
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The reason the seats can be flipped in the opposite direction is that if the train reaches the end of a line, they don't have to switch the whole train around to have the seats facing the right way.
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-CrystalSolvent
A lot of NJT uses the comets. When I take the NJT Port Jervis line to the Secaucus it is these older trains. They recently put some heritage units on the line. They are a sight to be seen.
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A lot of NJT uses the comets. When I take the NJT Port Jervis line to the Secaucus it is these older trains. They recently put some heritage units on the line. They are a sight to be seen.
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-marvwatkins7029
This is probably NJT's lowest priority train. Commuters to NYC come first and AC' s gambling and summer tourism isn't what it used to be. That's why this train is far from pristine.
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This is probably NJT's lowest priority train. Commuters to NYC come first and AC' s gambling and summer tourism isn't what it used to be. That's why this train is far from pristine.
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-GRMU99
I think that the seats move so you not riding backwards. 'll been on that line multiple times to Atlantic City and back. The Conductors will move the seats when you get to the last stop.
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I think that the seats move so you not riding backwards. 'll been on that line multiple times to Atlantic City and back. The Conductors will move the seats when you get to the last stop.
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-CTrail1711
In the Northeast it is very easy to record trains. I went to Hartford on 9/10 and many police officers were there. They let me film. I think it is harder to film Amtrak out west.
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In the Northeast it is very easy to record trains. I went to Hartford on 9/10 and many police officers were there. They let me film. I think it is harder to film Amtrak out west.
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-lucaskonkoski9711
Does this train at WRTC? They should extend this into New York City cause this is the only NJ Transit that does not go into New York so as trains to/from Hoboken Terminal
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Does this train at WRTC? They should extend this into New York City cause this is the only NJ Transit that does not go into New York so as trains to/from Hoboken Terminal
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