Newark–World Trade Center
| Industry | Rapid transit |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Newark, New Jersey; Jersey City, New Jersey; New York City, New York |
| Products | Rapid transit service |
| Website | www |
Newark–World Trade Center is a rapid transit line managed by the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH). Identified by red on PATH route maps, trains on this line display red marker lights. The service operates between Pennsylvania Station in Newark, New Jersey, and the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, traveling through the Downtown Hudson Tubes. It runs continuously throughout the day and night, with the journey lasting roughly minutes.
The segment linking Newark and Jersey City runs nearly parallel to the Northeast Corridor utilized by Amtrak intercity and NJ Transit commuter rail services, crossing the Newark Dock Bridge between Newark and New York. Due to this alignment, PATH is designated as a commuter rail by the Federal Railroad Administration, despite its rapid transit operations. This route stands out for having extensive portions above ground; specifically, the Newark–Jersey City section operates on elevated tracks, open cuttings, or at grade level.
H&M Era
Originally, the Newark–World Trade Center line started as the Grove Street–Hudson Terminal route under the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M), commencing service on September 6, 1910, between Grove Street in Jersey City and Hudson Terminal in Manhattan. The line was extended to Manhattan Transfer in Harrison by October 1, 1911, and further extended to Park Place in Newark on November 26, 1911. Additional stations at Summit Avenue (currently Journal Square) and Harrison were introduced in 1912 and 1913 respectively.
In June 1937, service to Park Place was discontinued with trains redirected to Newark Penn Station. At that time, Manhattan Transfer station was closed and Harrison station was relocated.
PATH Era
The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) took over from H&M in 1962. The original Hudson Terminal station was replaced by the World Trade Center station in 1971 as part of the World Trade Center complex development.
Express service on the Newark–World Trade Center line was initiated on April 29, 1996, during weekday mornings to reduce travel time by approximately 3.5 minutes. This express option bypassed all intermediate stops and was made permanent on October 27, 1996.
Following the September 11 attacks, which destroyed the World Trade Center station and forced closure of Exchange Place, service patterns were altered: weekday trains operated locally between Newark Penn Station, 33rd Street, and Hoboken Terminal; weekend trains ran between Newark Penn Station and 33rd Street via Hoboken. Express service was suspended indefinitely. Exchange Place station reopened in June 2003, partially restoring service. A temporary World Trade Center station began operation in November 2003; however, express service did not resume.
After flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 led to a service suspension, limited weekday operations restarted by late November 2012 with full restoration achieved early in 2013. Weekend service between Exchange Place and World Trade Center was halted starting January 5, 2019 for tunnel repairs linked to Sandy’s damage but resumed six months ahead of schedule in June 2020.
In June 2019, the Port Authority unveiled the PATH Improvement Plan aimed at enhancing capacity and minimizing delays. Major components include operating all Newark–World Trade Center trains as nine-car sets with plans for a possible increase to ten cars. To accommodate this expansion, platforms at Grove Street station will be lengthened. Alongside upgrades such as communications-based train control systems and new rolling stock acquisitions, these measures could increase capacity on this corridor by up to 40%.
Extension to Newark Airport
On February 4, 2014, the Port Authority unveiled a decade-long capital improvement plan that included a 3-mile PATH extension stretching southwest from Newark Penn Station to Newark Liberty International Airport, following an extensive study lasting nearly two years. This proposal received Board approval on February 19, 2014. The planned extension was intended to trace the current Northeast Corridor Line utilized by Amtrak and NJ Transit to reach the Newark Liberty International Airport station, providing travelers with access to the AirTrain Newark monorail system. Nevertheless, in March 2023, this extension initiative was postponed and reassigned to a subsequent capital plan due to financial constraints.
