Aldene Connection
| Company type | Rail junction |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation, Rail transport |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Roselle Park , United States |
Area served | New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line |
| Products | Rail connection between Central Railroad of New Jersey and Lehigh Valley Railroad lines |
The Aldene Connection serves as a link between two railroad lines situated in the Aldene area of Roselle Park, New Jersey. One of these lines was once part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), while the other belonged to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. This connection permits New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line trains originating from Cranford and locations westward to pass through Roselle Park and Union, continuing to the Hunter Connection in Newark. This route provides passengers with access to the Northeast Corridor and Newark Penn Station.
History
During the mid-1960s, the CNJ faced severe financial difficulties, culminating in a bankruptcy filing in early 1967. To lower expenses, the state established a "railroad transportation division" under the leadership of Dwight R. G. Palmer, aiming to maintain commuter rail service as an economical alternative to expanding highways. Palmer’s team recommended combining partial state funding with operational restructuring, resulting in the formulation of the "Aldene Plan." This strategy entailed building a ramp at Aldene to connect the CNJ and Lehigh Valley Railroad lines, redirecting trains formerly destined for Jersey City to instead follow the Lehigh Valley route onto the Pennsylvania Railroad mainline (now known as the Northeast Corridor) and proceed to Newark Penn Station. From there, travelers could transfer to PRR trains bound for New York Penn Station. The implementation of this plan enabled CNJ to discontinue its ferry service and scale back operations at Communipaw Terminal, yielding annual savings of approximately $1.5 million.
To serve factory employees located east of Aldene, Budd Rail Diesel Cars operated a service called the "Bayonne Scoot," running between Cranford and Bayonne until its discontinuation on August 6, 1978.
The Aldene Plan was inaugurated on May 1, 1967, utilizing push-pull trainsets with a cab car leading eastbound journeys. Up until 2014, passengers traveling toward New York were required to transfer at Newark onto electric trains or PATH services. In 2014, NJ Transit introduced direct service using Bombardier ALP-45DP dual-mode locomotives capable of switching from diesel power on the non-electrified Raritan Valley Line to electric power for entry into New York Penn Station. Due to capacity constraints at Penn Station, this dual-mode service is currently offered during off-peak periods.
The plan also influenced the Reading Company's Crusader service from Philadelphia, which operated into Newark Penn Station as a through train until 1981 and then as a connecting service until 1982. NJ Transit has contemplated reinstating this route under the name West Trenton Line.
At the same time, CNJ trains running on the NY&LBRR line (present-day North Jersey Coast Line) were rerouted away from Perth Amboy toward Newark Penn Station via Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, ending their prior service to Jersey City through Elizabethport.
Presently, the Aldene Connection consists of a single track but was constructed with provisions allowing for a second track installation in the future.
References