North Jersey Coast Line
| Company type | Commuter rail service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Jersey Shore area, New Jersey |
| Products | Commuter rail transportation |
| Owner | NJ Transit |
| Website | www |
The North Jersey Coast Line is a commuter rail service operating within the Jersey Shore area, extending from Rahway to Bay Head. Managed by NJ Transit, the line features electrification up to Long Branch. On transit maps, it is depicted in light blue accompanied by a sailboat icon. This corridor traces the path of the historic New York & Long Branch Railroad, which was jointly owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The majority of trains traverse between New York Penn Station and Long Branch, providing frequent service during peak periods and hourly departures during off-peak times. Diesel-powered shuttle trains operate between Long Branch and Bay Head, with a limited number of through trains running on weekdays during rush hours using dual-mode locomotives connecting Bay Head and Pennsylvania Station. Weekend schedules include hourly electric trains from New York to Long Branch, alongside diesel shuttles to Bay Head every two hours, increasing to hourly frequencies during peak summer months. Some electric services terminate at South Amboy, offering local stops from New York Penn Station at key Northeast Corridor stations such as Rahway, Linden, Elizabeth, and North Elizabeth during rush periods.
Service
The route is predominantly double-tracked except for the single-track bridge spanning the Manasquan River at Brielle. It utilizes both cab signals and wayside block signals; between Rahway and Long Branch, both tracks support bi-directional operations under (Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee Rule 261). Operational versatility is provided by twelve interlockings, which facilitate track switching and regulate access to freight branches such as the Chemical Coast Secondary, Amboy Secondary, and Southern Secondary, in addition to Long Branch Yard.
Passenger facilities include yards at Long Branch and Bay Head that support train operations. The Long Branch Yard is fully electrified and mostly equipped with interlockings. Bay Head Yard contains a large balloon track allowing entire trains to reverse direction without uncoupling locomotives, removing the need for a turntable despite push-pull train configurations reducing turnaround requirements. This yard remains actively used; however, it lacks interlockings and its switches are manually controlled. South Amboy once had a yard and sidings dating back to when electrification ended there; these have since been dismantled. The current South Amboy station features a single island platform, which means trains cannot bypass using the adjacent track.
Conrail Shared Assets Operations employs the North Jersey Coast Line for interchange purposes with the Delaware and Raritan River Railroad at Red Bank.
Movable bridges
Among NJ Transit’s twelve movable bridges, five are situated along the North Jersey Coast Line—the highest concentration on any single route:
- River Draw (swing bridge) spanning Raritan Bay
- Morgan Draw (bascule bridge) crossing Cheesequake/Morgan Creek
- Oceanport Draw (swing bridge with fixed catenary) over Shrewsbury River
- Shark River Draw (bascule bridge) on Shark River
- Brielle Draw over Manasquan River
Initially constructed as double-track, Brielle Draw has operated as a single-track bridge since the mid-1970s. The line also passes over several fixed bridges, including the longest one crossing the Navesink River at Red Bank.
Electrification
The North Jersey Coast Line is electrified northward from Long Branch. Initial electrification between Rahway and South Amboy commenced around 1936, later extending to Aberdeen-Matawan in 1982. This system originally operated at 11 kV before being upgraded to 12 kV in 1978, utilizing insulators rated for 25 kV. By 1988, electrification reached Long Branch at 12.5 kV 60 Hz, featuring self-regulating catenary wires installed between 1986 and 1988. In 2002, the voltage on the segment from Matawan to Long Branch was raised to 25 kV, which rendered Arrow III passenger cars inoperable on this section due to incompatible electrical requirements necessitating manual transformer adjustments.
North of Matawan, the electrification remains at 12 kV with a 25 Hz AC supply. Power sources are divided by three phase breaks located at Matawan Phase Gap, Laurel Phase Gap (between Hazlet and Holmdel), and just east of Bergen Place in Red Bank.
History
Following the completion of the Waterfront Connection in 1991, five weekday round-trip diesel services began running between Bay Head and Hoboken Terminal. On May 18, 2015, NJ Transit expanded this service by introducing three inbound and three outbound weekday trains operating directly between Bay Head and New York Penn Station.
Commuter clubs
The line was home to the United States' last private commuter passenger club, the Jersey Shore Commuters Club, founded in 1933 under the Pennsylvania Railroad. This club utilized half of a Comet IIM railcar (car number 5459), which was specially refurbished by Alstom in 2004 using club funds. The refurbishment included reclining lounge seats, ample seating space, fold-down tables, and private meeting areas. Club membership ensured guaranteed spacious seating during peak travel times and was available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who paid fees and adhered to club rules. The club car featured refurbished Amfleet Metroliner seats and operated one weekday round trip attached to the locomotive. The club ceased operations in August 2013 after Hurricane Sandy damaged the car, which had its final journey in October 2012.
Bergen Shore Express
Between 1986 and 1988, NJ Transit ran a summer express service originating from select stops on the Bergen County Line, passing through Jersey City and Newark before joining the Coast Line. This service ran non-stop between Harmon Cove station and Long Branch. Tickets included transfers for buses as well as beach admission. One round trip was offered each Saturday and Sunday throughout July. Despite strong ridership on sunny days, the service was discontinued due to shortages of crew and equipment combined with inconsistent demand.
Summer Shore Express
Starting in June 2014, NJ Transit introduced limited-stop summer shore express trains operating on weekends and holidays between Bay Head and New York Penn Station. This seasonal service continued through the summer until September 1 and resumed in subsequent years—2015, 2016, and 2017—providing four daily trips inbound and outbound: two in the morning and two in the evening.
Hurricane Sandy
In October 2012, the North Jersey Coast Line experienced severe damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, including track washouts between Perth Amboy and Bay Head, particularly near South Amboy and Aberdeen-Matawan stations. The Raritan Bay and Morgan Creek drawbridges sustained debris-related damage that affected their alignment. Service was suspended for three weeks; a brief partial restoration to Woodbridge was halted due to overcrowding issues. Under the Christie administration, most services resumed by November 19 with modified schedules and without trains running to Hoboken Terminal.
Rolling stock
Due to the intricate electrification system, the Coast Line operates one of NJ Transit's most varied equipment collections.
From New York to Long Branch, electric service is provided by ALP-46 locomotives hauling either Comet or MultiLevel passenger cars. Diesel-powered trains, utilizing either PL42AC or GP40PH-2B locomotives, run shuttle services between Long Branch and Bay Head, typically pulling consists of 4 to 6 cars.
During weekday peak periods, "One Seat Ride" trains traveling the full route from New York to Bay Head employ dual-mode ALP-45DP locomotives, which can seamlessly switch between electric overhead wires and onboard diesel engines. These are coupled with 8-car Comet or MultiLevel coach sets.
Rush hour short-turn trains operating between New York and South Amboy frequently utilize Arrow III railcars. Unlike the ALP-45 and ALP-46 models, these railcars are unable to proceed south of Matawan due to voltage incompatibility.
Stations
(Oceanport, NJ) Monmouth Park station offers limited service; opened in 1892. 20 Marks the end of electrification at Long Branch; station opened July 1, 1875.| State | Zone | Location | Station | Miles (km) | Date opened | Date closed | Connections / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY | 1 | Manhattan | New York Penn Station Template:NJT acc | 0.0 (0.0) | 1910 | Amtrak (long distance): Cardinal, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Silver Meteor Amtrak (intercity): Acela Express, Adirondack, Carolinian, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, Northeast Regional, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter Long Island Rail Road: multiple branches NJ Transit: Gladstone, Montclair-Boonton, Morristown, Raritan Valley, Northeast Corridor lines New York City Subway: Broadway-Seventh and Eighth Avenue lines New York City Bus, Academy Bus, Flixbus, Vamoose Bus | |
| NJ | Secaucus | Secaucus Junction Template:NJT acc | 3.5 (5.6) | 2003 | NJ Transit: Bergen County, Gladstone, Main, BetMGM Meadowlands, Montclair-Boonton, Morristown, Pascack Valley, Raritan Valley, Northeast Corridor lines Metro-North Railroad: Port Jervis Line NJ Transit Bus services | ||
| Newark | Newark Penn Station Template:NJT acc | 10.0 (16.1) | March 24, 1935 | Amtrak (long-distance): Cardinal, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star Amtrak (intercity): Acela Express, Carolinian, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor and Raritan Valley lines PATH: Newark – World Trade Center Newark Light Rail NJ Transit Bus and Greyhound Lines | |||
| South Street | |||||||
| Newark Liberty International Airport Station Template:NJT acc | 12.6 (20.3) | October 21, 2001 | Amtrak: Keystone Service, Northeast Regional NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line AirTrain Newark | ||||
| 5 | Elizabeth | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | 14.4 (23.2) | NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus | |||
| Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | 15.4 (24.8) | December 21, 1835 | NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus services | ||||
| Template:Njts | |||||||
| 7 | Linden | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | 18.6 (29.9) | NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus services | |||
| 8 | Rahway | ||||||
| Template:Njts | 20.1 (32.3) | January 31, 1993 | Closed due to maintenance issues | ||||
| Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | 20.7 (33.3) | January 1, 1836 | NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus and Rahway Community Shuttle | ||||
| 9 | Woodbridge Township | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | |||||
| Edgar |
July 21, 1975 |
||||||
| 10 | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | October 11, 1864 | NJ Transit Bus services | ||||
| Genasco | |||||||
| 12 | Perth Amboy | Template:Njts | June 28, 1875 | NJ Transit Bus services | |||
| 13 | South Amboy | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | 1938 | NJ Transit Bus services | |||
| Old Bridge Township | Template:Njts | Station proposed in previous plans from 1985 through 2008 but not constructed | |||||
| 15 | Matawan | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | July 1, 1875 | NJ Transit Bus services | |||
| 16 | Hazlet | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | July 1, 1875 | Academy Bus operates PNC Bank Arts Center Shuttle | |||
| 17 | Middletown Township | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | July 1, 1875 | ||||
| 18 | Red Bank | Template:Njts Template:NJT acc | July 1, 1875 | Connections include NJ Transit Bus and Academy Bus Shore Points Line | |||
| rowspan=2 19 | [[Little Silver, New Jersey ]|Little Silver]] | Template:Njts Little Silver |
1875 | Academy Bus Shore Points Line service available |
See also
Bibliography
- Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. History of Union County, New Jersey 1664-1923 · Volume 1. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1923.
- Poor, Henry Varnum. Poor's Manual of Railroads, Volume 26. American Bank Note Company, New York, 1893.
- United States Congress. The Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Eighth Congress, 1883-'84. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 1884.
- Wainwright, Halsted H. History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920 Volume 2. The Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1922.