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They shouldn't. AC is hopeless. Nobody wants to go there, especially people who would be the most likely to use the train (millenials). People from NYC and North Jersey already have the North Jersey Coast Line to go to some Ocean and Monmouth County shore towns. Extending a line all of the way down to AC is too long and impractical. AC doesn't have drawing power anymore, and just like ACES, ridership will go nowhere.
I'm all for expanding rail in South Jersey. It's sorely needed. But this is not. We should be prioritizing restoring rail lines in the Philly suburbs. Towns that are along old rail lines and once had stations like Moorestown, Maple Shade, Mount Holly, Haddon Heights, Laurel Springs, Audubon, Oaklyn, Pitman, Glassboro, Woodbury, Westville, etc. Maybe if Philly lands Amazon, some of that could materialize.
As for AC and the South Jersey shore, what could be nice would be a seasonal line from AC down to Cape May, which could provide full rail access along that shore to people coming from Philly and it's suburbs. Although that would probably take some serious eminent domain and is surely just a fantasy.
Unnecessary. I can probably think of $20 billion in investments that would make more sense for NJT to pursue and should move forward before thinking about ny-ac rail service. I was sad to see ACES go. It was nice. But nobody rode it. It didn't make sense to sustain it any longer.
I would much rather see improvement to our preexisting lines going into the city. More tunnels, newer infrastructure, all new trains (preferably the double deckers, confused as to why the NEC and NJCL still have those old one story trains given how many freaking people ride them) is what I would like to see. Also, one seat rides for all lines would be amazing. Especially RVL. We have it now only at off peak hours, which oftentimes can be useless.
As for AC and the South Jersey shore, what could be nice would be a seasonal line from AC down to Cape May, which could provide full rail access along that shore to people coming from Philly and it's suburbs. Although that would probably take some serious eminent domain and is surely just a fantasy.
Cape May had a seasonal rail service but it was suspended due to theft of track components. Link
The right of way is still there but the funding is not.
As for rail service to AC no just no. AC is a victim of being a one trick pony that put all the eggs in one gambling basket. It's too far from NYC or Philly to be a bedroom community and lacks a skilled labor force force to attract new employers. Let the city die and don't bail out casinos.
Cape May had a seasonal rail service but it was suspended due to theft of track components. Link
The right of way is still there but the funding is not.
Well it wasn't a real rail line. Just an excursion service for people already in the area. It didn't connect to a major city and did not get people from their homes to the beach. It was essentially a shortened down version at the end of the line for an old railroad that did go from Philadelphia to Cape May.
Hypothetically If we had the funding and all other NJT lines were running beautifully everywhere then I think fast rail service to AC would be a good idea. It might draw more people there and help revive the town. If someone can get to AC from NY Penn in let's say 90 minutes or so then I think this could be a good tourist attraction. Provided of course the service was frequent enough, the trains are not too crowded and the fairs are reasonable.
But given the sad state of Hudson tunnel and Portal bridge, unfinished/not started Sandy remediation efforts, single track diesel line, etc I don't think this could be a priority.
Well it wasn't a real rail line. Just an excursion service for people already in the area. It didn't connect to a major city and did not get people from their homes to the beach. It was essentially a shortened down version at the end of the line for an old railroad that did go from Philadelphia to Cape May.
Yes, it was a place to take grandma for the afternoon.
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