Atlantic City Express Service

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This article is about the NJ Transit train service. For the Amtrak train service, see Atlantic City Express (Amtrak train).
Atlantic City Express Service
Atlantic City Express Service.svg
Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) train 7163.jpg
GE Genesis P40DC #4800 runs in diesel under wire pulling Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) train #7163 through Elizabeth express down the Northeast Corridor to Atlantic City.
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleNew Jersey, New York City
PredecessorAtlantic City Express (Amtrak)
First serviceFebruary 6, 2009
Last serviceSeptember 18, 2011 (last service)
March 9, 2012 (official discontinuation)
SuccessorNone
Former operator(s)New Jersey Transit Rail Operations
Route
StartNew York Penn Station
Stops1
EndAtlantic City Rail Terminal
Average journey time2 hours, 40 minutes
Service frequencyFriday to Sunday only
On-board services
Class(es)Coach, first class
Disabled accessYes
Seating arrangementsReserved
Catering facilitiesFood and beverage kiosks
Entertainment facilitiesPrivate lounge rental available
Baggage facilitiesLuggage racks
Technical
Rolling stockGE Genesis P40DC
ALP-44
Bombardier MultiLevel Coach
Track owner(s)Amtrak, NJ Transit
Timetable number(s)ACES

The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) was an inter-city train service offered by the Borgata, Caesars Atlantic City, and Harrah's Atlantic City, operating from February 2009 until September 2011. It was operated by New Jersey Transit under contract, and funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. The train provided summer seasonal service between New York City and Atlantic City three days a week, operating along the Northeast Corridor and Atlantic City Line. The train was formally discontinued on March 9, 2012.

Background[]

With the success of NJT's commuter service to Atlantic City, talks about direct service to New York were discussed. In June 2006, the board of New Jersey Transit accepted a plan for an express service between Atlantic City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan, for a three-year trial initially slated to begin in 2007 (Newark Penn was not initially intended as a stop, but it would be added during the planning stages).[1] Because of delays in acquiring the cars and preparing the needed motive power (the 8 cars for this service are part of a larger 329-car order, and the four diesel locomotives were acquired from Amtrak), the service did not begin until February 2009.

The fleet was composed of eight bilevel rail cars carrying both ACES and NJ Transit markings, with service funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and three casinos, Caesars, Harrah's, and the Borgata.[2] Each train contained 300 seats with 4 cars per train. The multi-level cars' interior was customized for the ACES service, adding first class seating sections and lounge facilities. The cars were dedicated to ACES service and were never used for regular passenger service by NJ Transit.

In January 2011, service was suspended until May, citing low ridership and a $6 million loss in the first year of operations.[3] Service resumed May 13, 2011 and ended September 18, 2011.[4] The formal discontinuation of the route was announced on March 9, 2012.[5]

Sample consist
October 18, 2009
LocationNewark, NJ
TrainNo. 7181
  • P40DC Locomotive #4803
  • Bi-level Coach #7229
  • Bi-level Coach #7232
  • Bi-level Coach #7233
  • Bi-level Coach #7236
  • ALP-44 Locomotive #4409

The ACES passenger cars were converted to regular NJT cars by Bombardier from 2013 until 2014. They re-entered NJT service in mid-2014.[6]

ACES fares[]

Tickets for the ACES service were priced on a dynamic pricing scale, with tickets varying between $29 and $69 for one-way coach travel, first-class service available for a $20 upgrade from the coach fare, and lounge rental available for a $200 to $300 upgrade from the coach fare.[7]

Route[]

Trains picked up passengers at New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station, then ran non-stop to/from the Atlantic City Rail Terminal in about two-and-a-half to three hours.

Trains departed New York pushed by an ALP-44 electric locomotive and led by a dormant GE P40DC diesel locomotive until Frankford Junction in North Philadelphia. At this junction in North Philadelphia, the train reversed direction and was pushed by the P40DC along the Atlantic City Line. Northbound, the P40DC pulled the train to Frankford Junction, and then the ALP-44 pulled the train up the Northeast Corridor to New York. Sometimes, trains would switch between electric and diesel power at Newark, depending on operational conditions.[8]

Station listing[]

ACES trains made the following station stops:

City Station Connections
New York City Penn Station
Newark Penn Station
Atlantic City Rail Terminal
  • At the station: ACJA: 4, casino shuttles, Atlantic City Line to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA
  • At the Atlantic City bus terminal (2 blocks east of the station): NJT Bus: 319, 501, 502, 504, 505, 507, 508, 509, 551, 552, 553, 554, 559

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "NYC to Atlantic City express train will stop in Newark". New York Daily News. Associated Press. March 16, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  2. ^ Smothers, Ronald (June 20, 2006). "Atlantic City And Rail Line Agree to Offer Direct Service". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Murray, Lucas (January 5, 2011). "Hiatus planned for fast rail line to Atlantic City". The Courier Post.
  4. ^ "ACES rail line between Atlantic City and New York shuts down for fall and winter". Press of Atlantic City. September 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  5. ^ "NJT announces the formal discontinuation of Atlantic City Express Service". NBC 40. Associated Press. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Error".
  7. ^ Salkin, Allen (December 16, 2008). "A Luxury Train, Bound for Atlantic City". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  8. ^ Atlantic City Express Service schedule
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