New Jersey Transit awarded a contract for 27 ALP-46As to Bombardier on Friday.  These new electric engines are based on the reliable ALP-46s currently running in service, only with a few upgrades.  First, they will be more powerful, meaning that they would be able to haul the multilevel coaches more easily.  Also, these engines will be able to reach speeds of 125 mph!  The shipments of these engines are scheduled to being in fall of 2009.

More details in Bombardier's Press Release: http://www.bombardier.com/en/1_0/pressrelease.jsp?group=1_0&lan=en&action=view&mode=list&id=9164&sCateg=1_0

Back in January, we mentioned that Montgomery County was interested in starting up a very scaled back version of the Schuylkill Valley Metro.  Now, we found more details about the project.

The Montgomery Country task force is now studying the feasibility of running a diesel shuttle train from Norristown Transportation Center to Wyomissing, via Reading.  Of course, with the use of a diesel engine, passengers would have to transfer at the transportation center from R6 trains coming from Center City.  They started meeting back in September and hope to come to a conclusion in June, when public hearings will be held.

The consulting agency behind this project is DJHM of Philadelphia.  Their task: to keep the project as simple as possible.

This means no direct service to Philadelphia via Lower Merion, keeping it a diesel line, and making limited stops in Norristown, Port Kennedy, Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown, Monocacy, Reading and Wyomissing.  Service would also be hourly or bihourly, with half hourly service possible during peak travel times.  Also, this means that the project will no longer carry the name Schuylkill Valley Metro, since it has a connotation that is definitely not what the task force envisions for this project.  It will simply be known as the R6 Extension.

Representatives in this project include:

• Montgomery County (the leader)
• Chester and Berks County Reps.
• SEPTA
• BARTA
• Norfolk Southern, who may be interested in operating the trains
• Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Authority
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
• PennDOT, an active observer 

This news comes to us from PottsMerc.com by way of this thread on railroad.net.

Due to a steel shortage and the bankruptcy of a communications equipment supplier, SEPTA granted Rotem an extension of the delivery of the first three Silverliner Vs until April of 2009. This means that the rest of the order will be pushed back a few months as well, with the final delivery of the cars arriving in October of 2010.  More details in the Inquirer article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20080229_SEPTA_wont_get_new_rail_cars_for_months.html

Just in case you didn't notice, DART First State has a new look to their website.  It seems to be based of the State of Delaware Template.

This "new" website also brings news of the dates for the public hearings for the May-June service changes.  The major highlights include:

• Sunday service in Wilmington as a part of a one year pilot program, starting June 29, 2008.  Routes 1, 2, 4, 5, 15 and 33 (to Christiana Mall/Hospital) will run hourly from 9 AM to 6 PM (route 22 will also run on Sundays, with 90 minute headways).
• Saturday service in Dover as a part of a one year pilot program, starting June 28, 2008.  Routes 101, 104, 107, 109, 112 will operate hourly from 9 AM to 6 PM.
• A new Transit Hub will open in Newark, and the Newark bus routes (6, 33, 34, 39, and 65) will be rerouted to serve this hub.
• Routes 31 (Newark Trolley) and 32 (Wilmington Trolley) will drop their 25 cent fare, raising to the normal fare of $1.15.  Also, the 32 will be changed completely, with service to Wilmington Train Station being discontinued.  With its new route, it will be known as the Wilmington Market Street Trolley.

You can read more about the proposed service changes by visiting the following location on DART's website: http://www.dartfirststate.com/press_releases/may_june_svc_chg.shtml.

New Jersey Transit's 3077 had a similar life as 3000; it was basically used as a training bus, only out of Newton Ave Garage instead of Hamilton.  Now, 3077 is running in revenue service out of Washington Township.

NJT has a serious bus shortage, and those NABIs can't come in soon enough. 

Chuck on the forums, has reported that New Flyer E40LF's #801-804 has arrived at Frankford within the past few weeks.  

Training of the supervisors began today.  Once their training is completed.  Training crews will start training the operators.  Depending on their seniority, the operators will be trained for 3-5 days.  Once the training is nearly completed, expect these units in revenue service retiring the 35 Neoplans in service.

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/index.php?showtopic=1454&st=0 

Monday was a traffic nightmare when a support for I-95 cracked, causing ALL traffic in Northeast Philadelphia to be diverted off the highway and onto local Philadelphia streets. This section, between Girard and the Betsy Ross Bridge, is the busiest section of I-95 in Pennsylvania, so streets were clogged everywhere.

With traffic spilling onto local city streets, these routes were affected with significant delays: 1, 3, 5, 14, 20, 25, 39, 43, 50, 54, 60, 66, 73 and 84. Also, the route 15 trolley was operated with buses between Richmond and Cumberland and Richmond and Westmoreland Streets.  Passengers were advised that they can expect delays of 40-50 minutes on these routes, some of which are operating with detours.

In an effort to provide alternatives for those who my opt for the train into town, SEPTA is adding 20 cars to the R7 Trenton and R3 West Trenton peak hour trains.  These trains are basically operating with normal peak hour schedules, with an additional R7 local scheduled from Cornwell Heights Station to Philadelphia.

SEPTA set up a special I-95 Advisory page on their website: http://www.septa.org/travel_advisory/I95alternatives.html

The casino consortium, which owns NJT's new Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) from New York to Atlantic City, just announced that they will add a stop at Newark Penn Station.  This stop was added in addition to the stop at New York Penn Station, Trenton Station, and, of course, Atlantic City Terminal.

ACES is expected to begin in the 2nd half of this year with 8 multilevel cars with retrofitted interiors.  The cars will have 1st class and coach seating.  They will have leather seating, food and beverage kiosks, and space for luggage.  Just last week, NJT approved the contract with Bombardier to have these 8 cars modified.  The casino consortium will pay nearly 15 million dollars to purchase and modify these cars.  Additionally, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority paid 4.5 million dollars towards the purchase of P40s from Amtrak, since the trains will need both diesel and electric engines.

ACES is owned by a consortium of 3 casino-hotels: the Borgata, Caesars and Harrah's Resort Atlantic City.  They are contracting NJT for the operation of the line, and it will be operated at no cost to NJT.  At this time, it's unclear how many trains will be running on this new weekend service, and the consortium doesn't have any rider projections.  The price of the tickets is still being determined as well.

You can read more about the ACES update in this article: http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880317007