Atlantic City Express Service
| Company type | Rail service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Passenger rail transportation |
| Founded | February 2009 |
| Defunct | March 9, 2012 |
| Fate | Service discontinued |
Area served | New York City, Newark, Atlantic City |
| Owner | NJ Transit Rail Operations (administered under contract) |
| Parent | Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (financing) |
The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) operated as an inter-city rail line from February 2009 until September 2011. This service was administered by NJ Transit Rail Operations under a contractual agreement and financed by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, with additional backing from the casinos Borgata, Caesars, and Harrah's in Atlantic City. ACES offered weekend seasonal trips connecting New York City with Atlantic City, utilizing the Northeast Corridor and the Atlantic City Line. The service was officially terminated on March 9, 2012.
Background
After NJ Transit’s commuter rail to Atlantic City proved successful, authorization for a direct express route to New York was granted in June 2006 as a three-year pilot initially planned to launch in 2007. Although stops at Newark Penn were not part of the initial design, this station was incorporated during planning. Delays in obtaining rolling stock—including eight bilevel passenger cars from a larger procurement and four diesel locomotives acquired from Amtrak—resulted in the service commencing in February 2009 instead.
The trainset consisted of eight bilevel cars prominently featuring ACES and NJ Transit branding, funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority alongside Caesars, Harrah’s, and Borgata casinos. Each four-car consist accommodated 300 passengers and featured specially designed interiors with reclining leather seats across different service classes. The upper level was dedicated to first-class travelers, arranged in a 2x1 seating layout with at-seat food and beverage options. Private lounges accommodating groups of four were available for rental, while coach passengers could purchase refreshments from an onboard café.
In January 2011, ACES temporarily halted operations due to low ridership and a $6 million deficit during its inaugural year. Service resumed on May 13 but concluded again on September 18, 2011. The official discontinuation of the route was announced in March 2012.
Between 2013 and 2014, Bombardier refurbished ACES passenger cars into standard NJ Transit equipment, which returned to active service by mid-2014.
ACES fares
ACES implemented a dynamic pricing strategy for tickets, with one-way coach fares ranging from $29 to $69. First-class accommodations were offered for an additional $20 upgrade fee, while lounge access could be purchased for an extra $200 to $300 above the coach fare.
Route
Departures originated at New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station, operating non-stop to the Atlantic City Rail Terminal with an approximate travel time of two-and-a-half to three hours.
On southbound journeys, an ALP-44 electric locomotive pushed the train and was followed by an inactive GE P40DC diesel engine until reaching Frankford Junction near North Philadelphia. There, the diesel locomotive was activated, the train reversed direction, and the P40DC pushed it along the Atlantic City Line. For northbound trips, the P40DC pulled the train up to Frankford Junction, where the ALP-44’s pantograph engaged to supply power along the Northeast Corridor toward New York.
See also
- Atlantic City Express (Amtrak train)
- Blue Comet
- Pennsylvania–Reading Seashore Lines
- CapeFlyer
- Cannonball (LIRR train)