Weekday Off-Peak Direct Service to NYC Debuts

RARITAN – Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, who also chairs the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, was among those boarding the first one-seat ride train leaving the Raritan Borough station for New York on March 3. The train departed from the Raritan station at 8:43 a.m. and arrived at New York’s Penn Station at 10:09 a.m. 

“This is the culmination of 15 years of effort by the Rail Coalition, county and local officials and stakeholders all along the Raritan Valley Line,” Freeholder Palmer said.  “I was thrilled to be part of this maiden voyage to celebrate the launch of off-peak direct service to Manhattan.” 

He was joined by Rail Coalition Vice-Chairman Tom Jardim and Hunterdon County Freeholder Matthew Holt, as well as Somerset County Planner Kenneth Wedeen, who serves as the coalition’s staff support. 

NJ Transit has purchased dual-mode locomotives that will operate as diesels through Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Union counties and as electric locomotives through the tunnel to Manhattan, making the one-seat ride possible.  Ten trains will be part of the pilot program. 

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, joined by a coalition of 30 mayors of towns along the line, seeks to ultimately achieve a full one-seat ride Manhattan service on the Raritan Valley Line, so that riders do not have to change trains in Newark. 

For departure times from the High Bridge, Raritan and other stations going eastbound, and from Penn Station going westbound, visit http://bit.ly/OneSeatRide