More people riding River Line despite weekday service reduction

[Nexis4Jersey]

DSCN3034 by Nexis4Jersey09, on Flickr

Track repairs have slowed service on NJ Transit’s River Line since late August, but the modified schedule — which reduced the frequency of trains during weekday rush hours — has not translated into an exodus of riders.
A total of 664,360 passengers rode the Camden-to-Trenton line during the latest quarter of January through March, up 6.6 percent from the same quarter last year, according to the latest NJ Transit statistics.
Weekday ridership this past quarter averaged 8,540 passengers a day, and weekend ridership averaged 8,970 passengers daily.
More riders also took the train during the second quarter spanning October to December, which averaged 8,560 weekday riders and 9,650 weekend riders.
The increase in ridership occurred even though the line has operated under a reduced schedule since late August, after rains from Hurricane Irene caused an embankment to collapse on a section of rail between the Bordentown and Roebling stations, destroying a portion of track in the process.
The rails that were lost were not part of the main track that takes Trenton to Camden but were “passing siding,” described as an offshoot of track that allows two trains to pass each other on the largely single-track line.
Without the siding, NJ Transit was forced to alter its weekday service from trains arriving at stations every 15 minutes during weekday rush periods to every 30 minutes weekdays and weekends.
Work to repair the lost track continues, but NJ Transit officials have not said when it will be completed or when service at 15-minute intervals will be restored.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loca...fcfdbf5de.html

[Swede]

A thought: what's the connecting transit like? have bus lines and such been re-routed in the last year?
Also: I wonder what'll happen to ridership when it starts going every 15 minutes again

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by Swede

A thought: what's the connecting transit like? have bus lines and such been re-routed in the last year?
Also: I wonder what'll happen to ridership when it starts going every 15 minutes again

Theres a connecting bus service at almost every stop , with 5 Rail connecting services and a future regional rail line station which opens next year. The 15 minutes could be return by summer.

[hammersklavier]

IIRC the RiverLine's original design spec is for a maximum of 9,000 riders daily. It would be a good time to invest in some more equipment to increase that limit (more Stadler GTOs?) to something higher...

[FoUTASportscaster]

I find it interesting that weekend ridership is higher. What is the cause?

[Nexis4Jersey]

With all the TOD and Rail based developments happening along the line I wouldn't be surprised if we another 20,000 added by 2020....which then you would need more trains.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

I find it interesting that weekend ridership is higher. What is the cause?

Various events in the towns along the line and in Philly.

[volguus zildrohar]

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

I find it interesting that weekend ridership is higher. What is the cause?

The River Line doesn't seem to carry too many people to work. People living in those parts of South Jersey had their options before it came along (NJT buses, Speedline, driving) and the route is less convenient for commuting than it is for gettting to Camden/Philadelphia.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by volguus zildrohar

The River Line doesn't seem to carry too many people to work. People living in those parts of South Jersey had their options before it came along (NJT buses, Speedline, driving) and the route is less convenient for commuting than it is for gettting to Camden/Philadelphia.

It carry's a decent amount to work in Trenton and inbetween , its used by alot of college students who live up the line but go to college in Camden or Trenton...