The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) - NJ Transit's FAILED One Stop Express

[@glyphics1943]

Fact is Atlantic City is not as desirable a destination as it used to be. Car traffic to the Jersey Shore proves that, at least seasonally, there is much demand for most NJ coastline destinations. One of my regional rail fantasies is electrification and extension of the Long Branch line. I can dream, can’t I?

[@jeffg.8964]

Too bad the ROW used by CNJ’s Blue Comet is all broken up.

[@TrainSounds]

They should’ve put the tracks back in, I know it won’t happen, but it would’ve been nice if they did.

[@jeffg.8964]

@@TrainSounds It would be really difficult from a legal perspective. A lot of railroad rights of way were conveyed to the railroad companies on the condition that if they ceased to be used for railroad purposes they revert back to the original landowner. The state would have to use its eminent domain powers to take the land, something that would take decades to do, not to mention the endless environmental studies and NIMBY challenges. The CNJ should have left the rails intact and not abandoned the ROWs. Because NJ taxes railroad companies on all their properties, the incentive is to abandon unused ROWs to take them off the company’s books as a capital asset.

[@_SP64_]

Honestly if it had more stops, had proper schedules and had the ALP-45DP it could have been NJT's version of the Keystone

[@PeterLydenIV]

I completely agree

[@DTransit]

True, but the way that the train had to go out to Philly then back across NJ isn't incredibly convenient.

[@bracdude181]

@@DTransit Even back in the Blue Comet days the corridor was the fastest, albeit not by much.

[@2005GLI]

Njt didn't have alp45 dual modes back then.

[@_SP64_]

@@2005GLI i mean in a modern iteration of ACES

[@CaseysTrains]

Sadly there isn't a direct way to AC anymore from NYC without the dreaded double-backing and high runtimes. Back in the day the Blue Comet use to get to AC via Red Bank and Lakehurst. The army bases, and Garden State Parkway kind of killed The Blue Comet. Most of its right-of-way is now grown over.

[@qjtvaddict]

The only way direct to Atlantic City from Nyc would work would be if Atlantic City tracks to Philadelphia get upgraded to 125 mph tracks or a new bridge between Brooklyn and the Jersey Shore and new express row via Utica Avenue and then to Hoboken via lower Manhattan or penn Station via new tracks an EL too.

[@jaredhaase5282]

Actually the entire Blue Comet line and ROW is intact and in pretty good condition all the way down to Chatsworth. It's from there to Winslow Junction that would require the most rehab, and rebuilding of causeways and track. Up until Lakehurst there's a freight customer so the line is pretty good. It would honestly be a great service if they could restore it.

[@tyrese3745]

Nowadays, the only way to Atlantic City from NYC other than the 319 NJ Transit bus route is the Northeast Corridor Line to Trenton, then the River LINE Hybrid Rail Line from Trenton to Pennsauken Transit Center where passengers can connect to the Atlantic City Line.

[@williamfrank7565]

the biggest problem with rail service to Atlantic City is the ease and frequency of BUS service....A/C was built up by charter buses and most casinos still have a bus "dock" allowing coaches access to the casino/hotels themselves......Plus of course buses are not restricted by needing existing track.....The current A/C.... NJ transit service easily makes as much or more revenue as a commuter service into and out of Philadelphia to/from west Jersey....and the line goes single track nearer to A/C causing schedule limits......

[@andrewnagavelli1215]

Good stuff. Def more videos on NJ Transit history

[@mbbno]

Ultimately NJ Transit needs to have the NJ Coast Line continue south from it's current terminus of Bay Head. That line should just continue south to Cape May. It should have regular dependable service 24 hours a day.

[@tommyg9719]

honestly it would be a long line. but it would he popular. i would go to cape may more quite honestly

[@lifeofkyles]

I know I’m a bit late to this but I absolutely dream of this. I feel like Toms River would be a larger hub and to extend service to Cape May would give such a cool “train to the coast” feeling. I completely agree with you!

[@mbbno]

@@lifeofkyles thanks. We can dream. We need more trains criss crossing the state. Ultimately public transit needs to be funded equally as roads. It's the only way it will be viable.

[@eltonsalvador7620]

there's alot of new rail protentional for projects down in south jersey

[@seprishere]

Why should it be 36 tph 24/7 from NY Penn (or Jamaica or Montauk!) to Atlantic City?

[@tonytins]

That explains why I rarely see that variant of the P42 locomotives, despite Wikipedia displaying them proudly.

[@nickcef]

They should have never done that reverse move at Frankfort Junction to get onto the AC line. Would have been better to connect to the AC line directly in Jersey and bypass North Philly.

[@corriemayo2715]

Where would you have had this junction in New Jersey?? I don’t necessarily disagree with you, just want to know the route/lines you’d want revived in order to make it possible

[@nickcef]

@@corriemayo2715 Well, it probably would have been too expensive, but they could have reactivated the old Jersey Central line that used to carry the old Blue Comet passenger train back in the '30s and '40s. The tracks are still there, mostly running through the Pinelands. The route would take it down to Red Bank on the NJCL and from there they could reactivate the old line to Eatontown, Farmington, Lakewood, Lakehurst, and finally Atlantic City. Most of the line is still intact.

[@_SP64_]

@@nickcef I think having 30th Street, Newark Airport, Trenton, Lindenwold, a station at Atlantic City Airport and Metropark as stops for ACES might've helped the service.

[@Joesolo13]

@@_SP64_ I think the fact that they had to add a stop in Newark is pretty telling how poorly thought out it was. A stop in Trenton and Philly would've only added a few minutes, hardly a decision marker for New York travelers imo, but certainly getting more customers. It'd also have served as a alternative NYC>Philly option which definitely would have brought ridership.

[@_SP64_]

@@Joesolo13 It would be a good successor to the Clocker and it could take some of the slots available for NJT's Super Expresses and a successor to the CNJ's Blue Comet as well.

[@seprishere]

One crucial flaw is that the 319 goes direct from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Atlantic City in 150 minutes. 160 minutes is roughly London King's Cross to Newcastle (OK that's 170 minutes or so) which is about 300 miles.

[@stevenroshni1228]

It's gotten more expensive but there's private bus companies (like Greyhound) that directly service three or four Casinos

[@alphonsotate2982]

It was a cool set up NJT had with the locomotives it was a fun ride to AC so sad it stopped

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

The P40 units were acquired from Amtrak.

[@TheWolfHowling]

If NJT was going to the extra effort of acquiring exclusive rolling stock for ACES anyway, why did they not get a Dual-Mode Locomotive as well? That could operate in Electric mode on the NEC, then seemlessly switch to Diesel Operation on the unelectrified Atlantic City line.

[@njbusnut]

If it followed the former Blue Comet route instead of going towards Philadelphia, this would've worked.

[@qjtvaddict]

Exactly

[@dmac7128]

Much of that route is in disrepair and would need major reconstruction to make it active again. Only the northern part down is still active but is used by freight trains. But it would have made more sense this way if the return on investment justifies the cost.

[@michaelscott7706]

If there was a WYE track off the NEC straight on to the Atlantic City line without reversing into Frankford Jct coming from the north it probably would've been better. Then it could've used a P40 only and later an ALP45-DP.

[@BobNewbie]

I never got to ride to this service, namely because i'd have to backtrack to Newark from Philly. It just would have been one of those things to say you did. Atlantic City while fairly close, seems rather boring to me these days as im not a big gambler.

[@dmac7128]

For decades, NJ transit has been exploring the possibility of a mid state commuter line that runs through western Monmouth and Ocean counites using the old Blue Comet route. They should be working on restoring that route for commuter service and potential Atlantic City and Philadelphia Express services. The rights of way still exist but are in need of major reconstruction and upgrades to meet modern track standards. It could also take a load of the North East Corridor Line.

[@michaelscott7706]

Or if the NJ Central Blue Comet line was rebuilt n used the north Jersey coast to redbank it probably would've worked.

[@SteamSuperHEater]

Well there's something I've never seen before - first-class seating and a cafe in a Bombardier Multilevel coach

[@DTransit]

Very true! Takes you by surprise really when you see the pics of the ACES cars compared to standard NJT.

[@jaysmith1408]

With power, as long as the P40 was running, you were good. If the AEM broke down, you could at least make Newark

[@stevenroshni1228]

Bus service from Port Authority (only blocks away from Penn Station) goes directly to several Casinos, instead of a train station at the end of town. The bus takes the Garden State Parkway instead of having to go to Philadelphia and loop back around. If the rail infrastructure was better the ACES would have had the advantage of less delays and consumption of alcohol allowed and with party style busses to the Casino.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Very interesting! 😃

[@DTransit]

Thanks! Be sure to subscribe 👍

[@robertewalt7789]

The train went to Philly, but no station stop there?

[@stevenroshni1228]

I don't think it went all the way to the station in Philly

[@parkerjon29]

Calling the NEC a "rail line from hell" is pretty shocking to say

[@akashdubey443]

I love trains.

[@mahmoodkohatiPakistan]

,..... .🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 fully watched 🎉👍🎉🏆

[@diecastcollector7982]

i lived in new jersey for 10 years i always used to see NJ transit trains sometimes often but really never these kids of trains including this one i have only seen once i never took the train that oiften since i didnt work back in the day but atlantic city isnt as busy as it used to be

[@kitchener2200]

I really enjoyed this video. I subscribed to your channel as well!

[@DTransit]

Thank you so much! Appreciate it :)

[@MichaelMitchRailfan2009]

I don’t know why did NJT ran ACES during 3 days of weekends, what was it for?

[@DTransit]

I think running during the week would've been way too costly, people usually go to AC more during weekends and holidays.

[@dugenpippenger4811]

it is pronounced "bom-bar-dee-ay" not bom-bar-deer

[@stickynorth]

Correct! French-Canadian last name not WWII career...

[@nycres]

This thing had no chance. The route was just too circuitous. It's faster and more convenient to take one of the many, many buses from NYC to AC. Most will drop you right off at the casino where you'll often get free slots play.

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

The hell with buses. I can't stand the frggin' things. For AC, the train would be my first choice. After that, driving. After that, staying home. I'm not much of a gambler anyway.

[@stevenroshni1228]

​@@TomHoffman-uw7pftrains done properly have an advantage even when shuttle buses are needed

[@stevencipriano3962]

AC is a bit of a ghetto now

[@transitdude3352]

This thing could’ve worked if the train didn’t have wait for permission to use Philadelphia tracks and change power on the trains. I loved it but hated sitting on the tracks for sometimes up to forty five minutes. It needed to pick up people from other stations as well but couldn’t.

[@theestallion818]

Those models still being used for n.j. transit??????

[@yankeesforlife24]

Only the coaches

[@andrewnagavelli1215]

They removed the lounge/cafe/first class…you wouldn’t know it from any other car if you were on it today.

[@RaisedLetter]

Not that it would have mattered if they did fix the scheduling. Atlantic City just isn't what it used to be. NJT should take a page out of CapeFlyer and the near revival of the Suntan Special from Caltrain. Aim for more practical tourism like seaside towns and beachgoers than just gambling.

[@trainrover]

that engine more the diesel-electric than any diesel though, right

[@paulmoreno6279]

Awesome! 😎

[@AmtrakNerd42]

Do they still use the p40s?

[@DTransit]

No, they were sold off to CTDOT back in 2015.

[@AmtrakNerd42]

@@DTransit oh. Ok thanks

[@mattfolgia2676]

Fire vid

[@blackking7512]

Should've stopped at NY, Sec, NWP, NWAP, Trenton, Philly, and Intermdiate stops on the Atlantic city lines.

[@stevenroshni1228]

Each stop diminishes speed and comfort of smooth movement. There's plenty of Amtrak service that makes those stops just transfer trains in Philly

[@BigRob-FormerlyMrSlim]

My dream is that someday NJT would revive the former lines to the other shore town destinations Ocean City and Cape May. Sea Isle and Wildwood are no longer possible as most of the former right-of-ways are now covered by houses/buildings and highways. However, this will most likely NEVER HAPPEN anyway as it wouldn’t be profitable for NJT because, 1. Those lines wouldn’t even see nearly as much ridership at the AC line, they would basically have to run them only seasonally from like, May to September, 2. The residents of those towns would be in an uproar if they were to hear about a potential return of passenger train service as those towns would be, if not dealing with already, crime. Especially Ocean City. A direct train from Philadelphia would attract even more garbage. 3. Much like the most of the AC line, the lines to the other shore towns are single tracked. And it would force NJT to reconfigure the scheduling making even longer wait times between trains. So even though it’s not gonna happen, doesn’t hurt to dream.

[@nathancho1062]

YES

[@cs0779533]

what a frankenstein train. electric front "engine" and diesel back engine

[@arunbhoopathyt6503]

Roool them without over head wiress. 2 good luk

[@bstephan5224]

United States has one of the worst public transportation in the world. Is our city the full of concrete.

[@JermaniBurroughs]

Yeah but things are Slowly Improving

[@stevenroshni1228]

Tell me you haven't been to a third world country before

[@R262SubwayCar1]

Look at Australia

[@joseph7119]

Not enough stops so not picking up enough people doesn't work.