Diesel light rail to Flemington
August 10th 2007 08:32 am
I just found out about an article from two weeks ago regarding a proposal to create a line similar to the River Line from Flemington to Bound Brook, with a connection to the Raritan Valley Line. This could help reduce traffic on Route 202, which was the scene of an 8-vehicle fatal accident on Tuesday.
Flemington used to be served by three railroads: The Pennsylvania Railroad, heading down to Lambertville; the Lehigh Valley, north to Flemington Junction; and the Central Railroad of NJ (CNJ), to Somerville. The Black River and Western currently operates tourist train service on the ex-Pennsylvania route. The Lehigh Valley right-of-way from Flemington no longer exists. The CNJ route now connects to Norfolk Southern’s Lehigh Valley route in Readington Township; the Norfolk Southern line continues to Bound Brook. This is the route that the proposed diesel light rail line would use.
One main problem is sharing the Norfolk Southern right-of-way with heavy freight trains. This is a major east-west freight route across the state. Assuming Norfolk Southern would even be willing to accommodate the diesel light rail cars, a separate track would be required, with various protection devices to detect derailments, etc.
Use of diesel multiple unit cars would probably be simpler, as they can share the right-of-way with freight trains, but an additional track would be still be necessary.
An easier (but probably more expensive) route would be the ex-CNJ route all the way to Somerville. It appears that the right-of-way is intact, although bridges would need to be rebuilt. This route would avoid the operational problems with sharing a right-of-way with heavy freight trains, allowing the use of diesel light rail cars without restrictions. The service would also be more reliable, as NJ Transit would not be at the mercy of dispatchers from another railroad.
Given New Jersey’s glacial pace of expanding the passenger rail system (West Trenton Line, anyone?), all of this is years away, if it happens at all. The important thing for now is that the ex-CNJ right-of-way from Flemington to Somerville be preserved. The route appears on NJ-ARP’s inventory of NJ’s vital rail rights of way.
Joe Versaggi responded on 17 Aug 2007 at 7:25 am #
It would mean a grade-crossing across US206 in southern Somerville, which is now a congested 4 lane, 50-55 MPH highway, though it has traffic lights. Given NJT’s obsession with 1-seat rides to Manhattan, I don’t see them pursuing this even though one can make more of a business case of this than more service to High Bridge.
Bob Scheurle responded on 17 Aug 2007 at 11:28 am #
I don’t think it would be difficult to build a bridge over Route 206, especially if it’s for diesel light rail vehicles.
cfmrail responded on 27 Aug 2007 at 8:50 pm #
The Stadler DMU’s are mainline equipment that interoperates with freight in Europe and meet UIC standards. I will be submitting a comment on the proposed new crash standards for cab cars to ask that the FRA review collision data in Europe and use that data to determine whether UIC rated equipment protects the public as well as either existing or proposed FRA standards. While I am skeptical about the value of a Flemington shuttle, the overall issue of crashworthiness is one that needs attention. Caltrain is looking to get permission to use UIC standards and they will be needed to make true HSR feasible because FRA standard equipment is too heavy.