The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey rolled out the first batch of 72 new PATH rails cars at the Hoboken station this morning.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Prioritizing public transportation means never settling for a transit system that amounts to less than what our residents and visitors deserve,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.
“After announcing 9-car train service just last month, the Port Authority will enhance PATH’s capacity and efficiency yet again through the addition of dozens of new rail cars. Together, these significant improvements will continue to spur PATH’s determined recovery of ridership while promoting safe and accessible transportation for all New Jerseyans.”
The new cars are part of the agency’s $1 billion PATH Improvement Plan to reduce delays and enhance the overall customer experience.
The new high-performance rail cars will supplement the current fleet of 350 and will be gradually integrated into the system throughout 2023 and into 2024, marking an increase of more than 20 percent in rolling stock, officials said today.
“The addition of these new rail cars aligns with our broader initiative to enhance service quality, improve customer experience, and boost overall capacity across the PATH system,” explained Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“With ridership recovering from the pandemic, we anticipate more riders utilizing the PATH system and want to ensure we have the capacity and reliability people expect.”
Part of the improvement plan, which was introduced in 2019, called for capacity increase through the acquisition of additional rail cars, expansion of station platforms to accommodate 9-car trains on the Newark-World Trade Center line, and utilization of a new signal system to run trains more frequently, particularly during morning and evening rush hours.
“PATH remains committed to improving riders’ experience, from the countdown clocks to station cell service and comfort on the train,” stated Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole.
“We’re delighted to celebrate the introduction of these new rail cars marking an exciting step toward a state-of-the-art rail experience for our customers.”
Built by Kawasaki, the new rail cars were transported to a Kawasaki facility in Yonkers, New York where they were outfitted and tested before being delivered to PATH.
The 72 cars are part of PATH’s commitment to expand its fleet in order to increase its capacity in the years ahead.
“With each step of the PATH Improvement Plan, we are bringing better service, easier access, and more modern facilities and equipment into our system,” added PATH Director Clarelle DeGraffe.
“Today marks another achievement in the agency’s ongoing commitment to providing the best possible customer experience for our riders.”
The new cars will be put into service on the Newark to World Trade Center, 33 Street to Journal Square, Hoboken to 33 Street, and Hoboken to World Trade Center lines, as well as the Journal Square to 33 Street via Hoboken line on weekends.
