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Advocate for Better Rail Service

Advocate for Better Rail Service

Advocate for Better Service

Advocate for Better Rail Service

Your passenger representative for NJ Transit's Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton Lines

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Why should I care

Why should I care?

Why should I care?

Want faster trains? Difficulty finding seats? Hate the constant delays? We're here to help!

Let me count the reasons!

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Next Meeting

Next Meeting: Monday 2/27

Next Meeting: Monday 2/27

6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall

6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall Meeting Info

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What can I do?

What can I do?

Quite a lot actually. Make your voice heard at NJT Board Meetings. Distribute our Railgram newsletter. Get Involved. Join Today!

Quite a lot actually.

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News Begins Below

Upcoming Events
  • 2/8 - NJ Transit Board Meeting
    (9:00 AM, 1 Penn Plaza )
  • 2/27 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall )
  • 3/8 - NJ Transit Board Meeting
    (9:00 AM, 1 Penn Plaza )
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We are "meeting" by phone now!

Published: 14 May 2020
Written by David Peter Alan

The Lackawanna Coalition is still alive and looking our for you, the riders on NJ Transit.  We have succeeded in convincing NJ Transit to run more trains for those of us who still need them and ride them.

Historically, we met at Millburn Town Hall since our organization was founded in 1979.  At the moment, most of the world is locked down, and our normal meeting room is closed.  That does not mean we are out of action, though.  We are meeting by telephone conference at our normal meeting time, 6:45 pm on the fourth Monday or every month (the one exception being May 18 because of Memorial Day).  We will keep "meeting" by phone every month until our regular meeting room is available again. 

We still have presentations, the latest news from the Morris & Essex and our other rail lines, and a lively discussion at every "meeting"; just as we did when we met in person.  We hope to meet in person again soon, but in the meantime, wel invite you to participate in our phone conferences.

If you wish to join us on the phone, please send an e-mail message to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will assign a phone number that you can use to call us at the appropriate time.  

We also hope that you will join the Coalition and help us with our efforts to keep our transit going during these difficult times.  Our dues for individual members are still only $15 per year!

In the meantime, don't forget to check our forum on this web site for more of the latest rail news.

 

WatchThis Space! We're Coming Back!

Published: 01 May 2020
Written by David Peter Alan

We are making a lot of changes at the Lackawanna Coalition these days, and we are doing it for YOU, our constituents!

Things have changed in the last few weeks, since the COIVID-19 virus struck our area.  People are traveling less staying home more, and not holding face-to-face meetings at all.  That includes us, as we have been meeting on the phone until Millburn Town Hall opens up again.

New Jersey Transit is still running, and we still have the level of train service that we have historically had on week-ends, plus some extra trains for the remaining commuters; thanks to an effort by your advocates here at the Lackawanna Coalition and our colleagues at the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP).  

We want to keep you informed about the latest rail news and give you some thought-provoking comments, too.  That is why we are bringing this portion of our web site back.  It's all part of an effort to improve our communications with you, our constituents.  Whether you still commute, ride occasionally, or are staying home on a hiatus from commuting, we are still here for you and your community. If you are involved with the life of your community, we will keep you informed about what is happening on the railroad and on other matters concerning your transit.

So check in with us and find out what our members have to say.  We welcome your comments and suggestions, too.  Send us a message at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you wish to comment!

DAVID PETER ALAN, Chair 

Join Us as the Coalition Celebrates our 40th Anniversary!

Published: 01 April 2019
Written by David Peter Alan

April will be a big month for the Lackawanna Coalition.  We will be celebrating 40 years of service to the train riders in our region and their communities, and we would like you to celebrate with us.

The Coalition began as the Millburn Commuter Watchdog Committee, in response to deteriorating conditions and service on the Morris & Essex Line and other nearby rail lines.  Our founders changed the name to the Lackawanna Coalition in honor of the Lackawanna Railroad, our heritage railroad, and to establish a more-regional orientation.  At first, we represented riders on the Morris & Essex Line, as well as the Montclair and Gladstone Branches, and their communities.  Today our purview has expanded to include the entire Montclair-Boonton Line, and our area of interest comprises all transit that connects with our primary lines of concern.  That means North and Central Jersey and New York City, because riders on our primary lines go to all those places.

Come and learn more about us, our history and our railroad.  Throughout the month of April, we will present a small museum-style display of artifacts from the Coalition, the Lackawanna Railroad and the town.  The artifacts come from members' collections, as well as the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society.  The exhibit will be on view at the Millburn Library until the end of the month.  To view it, look for the display case to the right after you enter the library.

We also invite you to come to our regular meeting on Monday, April 22 at Millburn Town Hall, starting at 6:45 pm.  Our meeting will feature a celebration of our special anniversary, with stories and refreshments.  We hope you will come and celebrate with us, and we hope that you will join the Lackawanna Coalition and help us advocate for better train service on New Jersey Transit.

A Shuttle Is Now Available To Get You To the Hearing on Monday

Published: 08 March 2019
Written by David Peter Alan

When we reported to you about the hearings that will give you an opportunity to be heard about the trains that have been removed from the schedule on our lines, we also reported that the event will take place at Morris Township Hall; a venue that is not transit-accessible.  We now have good news for you: even if you depend on transit: you can still get there.

Morris Township, in cooperation with the Lackawanna Coalition, will offer transportation from Convent Station to Morris Township Hall and back next Monday, March 11, for the event.  The town will make two trips with the van, for early and late commuters, with two trips back to Convent Station.  Both trips are scheduled to connect with eastbound and westbound trains, so attendees who need a ride will have access from all points on the Morris & Essex Line.  The hearing is scheduled to start at 6:00, and the early run will get you there in time for the beginning of the event.

The early run will leave Convent Station at 5:45 pm, connecting with the 4:43 train from Penn Station, New York (which connects with the 4:27 train from Hoboken at Summit) and the 5:15 train from Dover.  The late run will leave at 6:50 pm, connecting with the 5:49 train from New York (which connects with the 5:33 train from Hoboken at Summit) and the 6:20 train from Dover.  Returning, the early run of the van will leave Town Hall at 7:10, connecting with the 7:24 train to New York and the 7:35 train to Dover.  The late run will leave Town Hall at 8:00 and connect with the 8:16 train to Dover and the 8:19 train to Penn Station, New York.  For connections to Hoboken and other stops, please consult the Morris & Essex Line timetable or check on NJ Transit's web site, www.njtransit.com.

We thank Township Administrator Timothy Quinn, Council Member Catherine Wilson and the town's representative on the Lackawanna Coalition, Robert Drucker.  This is a great example of how a town can use its resources to help people who need that assistance.  We hope that this will be the first of many examples of such cooperation between our towns and the advocates for our transit riders.

Space is limited.  The van holds 15 riders, and there are only two runs available, so persons who depend on public transportation will have priority.  If you wish to be sure that there will be room for you, we suggest that you contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  We will be at Convent Station before both departures to assist you.  The van is not accessible to all passengers with disabilities, since it cannot accommodate wheelchairs, but Morris Township and the Lackawanna Coalition are working together to help you get to this important hearing if you do not have access to an automobile.

Atlantic City Trains and the Dinky Are Coming Back for Memorial Day Week-end, but No Word About Trains in Our Region

Published: 01 March 2019
Written by David Peter Alan

New Jersey Transit has announced that trains between Philadelphia and Atlantic City on the Atlantic City Rail Line and the Dinky, a shuttle between Princeton Junction and a point near downtown Princeton, will start running again on Friday, May 24, just before Memorial Day week-end.  The lines were completely shut down last year after Labor Day, and riders have been taking buses provided by NJ Transit as substitute transportation since that time.  Kevin Corbett, Executive Director of NJ Transit, made the announcement at a hearing in Cherry Hill, called for the purpose of allowing riders to voice their concerns over the lack of rail service.  The Philadelphia Inquirer and its web site, www.philly.com, reported that nobody applauded when the announcement was made.

Riders in our region were not so lucky.  There has not been any announcement of when riders in North or Central Jersey, north of Princeton, will again be able to ride any of the trains from the lines in our region that were also eliminated.  NJ Transit originally said that all trains would be restored by the beginning of this year, but that date has been pushed back three times.  The latest word is that all trains will be restored during the "second quarter" of this year.  There will only be 37 days left in the quarter after the Dinky and Atlantic City trains return to the rails, so the Coalition and many riders in this region are concerned that the trains we lost last year will not come back by the end of June, if they ever do.   

Since last year, there have been no week-end trains on the Gladstone Branch west of Summit, but substitute bus service has been available.  There are no direct "one-seat-ride" trains to and from Penn Station, New York on the Raritan Line.  Selected trains on the Morris & Essex (M&E), Montclair-Boonton and other lines have been removed from the schedule, too, but those service reductions have only left gaps between the trains that still operate.  There were no schedule adjustments to smooth out those gaps, and no substitute buses, except for one train that has been suspended.  That is Train #684, the former 11:30 pm train from Dover; the last inbound train on weeknights.  Because of our advocacy efforts, NJ Transit has hired the Lakeland Bus Company to run a bus on the former train's schedule to all Morris County stops and to Summit, where a connection to Newark and Hoboken is available.  This prevents riders from being stranded.

These service cuts were purportedly implemented to facilitate the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC), a safety system mandated by Congress and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).  At the beginning of last year, NJ Transit was behind schedule in installing the needed equipment and training employees how to use it.  By the end of 2018, the agency had met the FRA's target for the year.  Management has received high marks for getting that part of the project completed on time.  NJT proposed a plan to complete the job by the statutory deadline of the end of 2020, and the FRA has approved the plan.

At this writing, nobody knows when, if ever, the trains that used to serve this region, but have been removed from the schedule, will come back, if they ever do.  NJ Transit is not talking about it, and neither is Gov. Murphy.  Advocates in South Jersey credited local politicians with putting the pressure on Murphy and NJ Transit to restore Atlantic City service by Memorial Day, and it appears that the trains will be back by then.  Summer is the busy season at the Shore, and it only lasts about 14 weeks; from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with some businesses staying open on week-ends in September.  The Shore needs all the transit it can get during the "season" but this region needs its transit, too.  When we will get our trains back is anybody's guess.

"L" Line Subway Shutdown Averted in NYC; Penn Station Tunnel Repairs May Become Less Expensive, Too

Published: 04 January 2019
Written by David Peter Alan

As he begins his third term in office, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo brought sighs of relief to residents and business owners on and near Fourteenth Street in Manhattan, as well as in the now-trendy neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.  Residents in these areas had dreaded a 15-month shutdown of the "L" subway line in their areas that was scheduled to begin in April, but Cuomo has announced that service will continue.  Not only with this change benefit the City's subway riders, but it could also benefit the Lackawanna Coalition and other advocates who are pushing for a more-affordable alternative to the costly Gateway proposal for new new rail infrastructure between New Jersey and New York City.

The "L" line runs under Fourteenth Street, through the Canarsie Tunnels into Brooklyn, and eastward through that borough, to Rockaway Parkway, near Canarsie Shore (it ran all the way there many years ago).  The Canarsie Tunnels were damaged by flooding from Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and must be repaired.  Plans by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's MTA Capital Construction arm approved in April, 2017, called for shutting down the portion of the line under Fourteenth Street and in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for fifteen months, and at a cost of $492 million.  The plan called for major transit disruptions in the affected areas and "replaced" by augmented service on the "G" train (Brooklyn-Queens Local), which connects with the "L" but does not enter Manhattan, and extra buses on Fourteenth Street.  Neither of these services would have crossed the East River to link the boroughs.  During the shutdown, the bench walls inside the tunnels, which contain power and signal cables, would have been demolished and replaced with new bench walls and cables for the tunnels' entire length. 

Cuomo called in experts from the engineering faculties at Columbia and Cornell Universities, who studied "best practices" for tunnel construction in cities outside this country, including London, Hong Kong and Riyadh.  Rather than demolishing and rebuilding the bench walls with new cables inside, the engineers recommended abandoning the cables inside the bench walls, "racking" new cables (essentially securing them to the inside walls of the tunnels), keeping the existing bench walls as walkways where they are structurally-sound, replacing the segments that are not with new walkway surface, and using modern materials to improve strength and waterproofing. 

The new plan, as proposed by the Columbia and Cornell engineers, should save a considerable amount of money, although we do not yet know how much.  It cost $71.6 million to rehabilitate the Clark Street Tunnels between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn (used by the #2 and #3 trains).  It may be even more important to residents and business owners along the line that the scope of the project will be reduced sufficiently to allow construction at night and on week-ends, with reduced service during those times, because one tunnel must be shut down for construction.  There would be no loss of service during peak-commuting hours, which would avert a major and long-term service disruption.

At this writing, not everybody seems to know what to make of the news that the long shutdown has been averted.  Coalition member John Bobsin reported on the Coalition's web forum: "Cuomo bypassed his MTA and consulted academic experts, who suggested techniques involving sonar never before used in U.S.  Nobody seems to know what this means yet, but all sorts of advocates are being quoted. One called it a last minute Hail Mary pass; another said even doing the work nights and weekends posed a great burden on the public.  The effect on Brooklyn real estate prices was also being pondered."  One of those advocates, Coalition member Joseph M. Clift, also a former Planning Director for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), was ecstatic.  He said: "It makes sense instead of dollars."  He was referring to dollars that will be saved, now that it will not be necessary to demolish and rebuild the bench walls, or to take the entire line out of service for an extended period.  Clift continued: "Who would be able to give you the most cost-effective advice: engineering deans and their specialists, or industry insiders?  The answer should be obvious."

A presentation from the governor's office, which can be found here,  explains the new plan.  One statement from that presentation may have a large impact on the proposed Gateway project and the Coalition's advocacy for a reduced scale plan that would be significantly less-expensive than the $30 billion estimated cost for all of Gateway as currently proposed.  It is noted under "Benefits" and says: "This new system design approach can be potentially applied to other projects, such as the Second Ave. Phase 2 and Hudson River Train Tunnels."  The former refers to the Second Avenue Subway, while the latter refers to the tunnels on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (between New Jersey and Penn Station, New York), also known as the North River Tunnels.  These tunnels were also damaged by flooding from Hurricane Sandy, and Amtrak says they must be taken out of service for repairs within the next fifteen years.  The Coalition has been spearheading the effort to get a more-affordable alternative, with a cost sufficiently low that that the federal government would be willing to pick up some of the tab.

Long-time engineer and planner George Haikalis who is President of the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility (IRUM) as well as Chair of the Village Crosstown Trolley Coalition and the Regional Rail Working Group, praised the new plan, saying: "At last, a sensible discussion of L Train tunnel repair strategies. The same is needed for Hudson Tunnel repairs."  Clift agreed and said: "They got an honest second opinion -- one that is not encumbered by the fear of not getting future work from a major player like the MTA." 

Whatever effect Cuomo's about-face on Canarsie may have on Gateway or advocacy for a more-affordable alternative to it remains to be seen.  What we already know is that Cuomo started his third term with a bang.  The new plan should improve transit service by averting a major disruption, while saving money; a rare feat in today's political arena.  New York City's transit riders will certainly notice, and many of the state's voters will probably notice, too.  We are not a political organization, but it is impossible to observe transit without observing politics, too.  Cuomo has been mentioned as a possible contender for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination next year.  Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has officially started her campaign already.  If Cuomo has unofficially kicked off his own campaign, he chose an interesting way to do it.  Of course, Cuomo has already been governor for the past eight years so, at least in theory, he could have done this sooner.  Still, the timing of his action might be good for all concerned.  Time will tell, and it will be an interesting ride.

Coalition Votes "No Confidence" in Amtrak Boss

Published: 01 December 2018
Written by David Peter Alan

The Lackawanna Coalition has voted "no confidence" in the leadership of Richard Anderson, President of Amtrak.

Anderson, who spent much of his career in the airline industry, came to Amtrak at the beginning of 2018, and has drawn strong criticism for eliminating food and other amenities on certain trains, eliminating or reducing discounts for such traditionally-rail-friendly groups as students and seniors, and attempting to kill long-distance trains, particularly the Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles.

The letter sent by the Coalition along with the resolution stated: "New Jersey and the riders on New Jersey Transit's trains have strong reason to be deeply concerned about the future of Amtrak. Most of the riders on the portion of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line (NEC) through our state and into Penn Station, New York, use New Jersey Transit's trains; many more riders than use Amtrak's trains over the same stretch of track. This applies to commuters, regular riders, and occasional riders alike."

 

While the Coalition's purview is regional and not national, our letter expressed concern that Anderson's plans to shrink the national rail network could have negative consequences for us in New Jersey, saying: "We are especially concerned that, if Anderson succeeds in shrinking the Amtrak network, the result will be a loss of Congressional support for Amtrak, especially among members whose constituents stand to lose their Amtrak train. This scenario would have a detrimental effect on funding for projects that are vital to our region, including new tunnels into Penn Station and necessary 'state of good repair' projects." 

 

Preserving the national Amtrak network may take on even stronger significance for us when the new Congress convenes.  Democrats, who will control the House, are generally more favorable to Amtrak and to local transit than Republicans.  Republicans have expanded their majority in the Senate, and they (like Democrats) are sensitive to the possibility of their constituents losing Amtrak service in their state.  If Amtrak kills a train in their state, they could vote against money for Amtrak, which could adversely affect Amtrak projects in our region.

 

The Coalition is not the only rider-advocacy organization that has declared its opposition to Anderson.  The New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP) has urged the Amtrak Board of Directors to fire and replace Anderson.  Nationally, the Rail Users' Network (RUN) has also passed a "no confidence" resolution against Anderson.  It can be found on the RUN web site, www.railusers.net.  One of the options on the site is "About/Join" and it will have a further option of "Testimony & Statements."  The cover letter and Bill of Particulars complaining about Anderson and his policies can be found there.  This writer, who is also a member of the RUN Board of Directors, drafted the original Bill of Particulars, which the Board modified and approved.

 

It began as follows: "Since becoming President of the National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak), Richard Anderson has made decisions and implemented policies to the detriment of the Corporation and its customers. These acts have threatened to destroy the existing Amtrak network, alienated constituencies whose support is vital to Amtrak, and severely reduced the sort of amenities and services that have attracted the public to rail travel."  RUN went on to criticize him for threatening to destroy its national passenger-rail network, eliminating services and amenities, alienating rail-friendly constituencies and jeopardizing state-supported trains, among other allegations.

 

Both RUN and the Coalition called for Congressional action.  The Coalition sent its letter and resolution to New Jersey's Congressional delegation.  RUN called for the House Transportation Committee to hold hearings about Anderson.  RUN's request was: "Because of the many detrimental actions, in-actions and recommendations which are stated above as well as the other items listed in the attached Bill of Particulars, we respectfully request that Mr. Anderson’s competency be evaluated by the House Transportation Committee before the national rail passenger system further deteriorates and current ridership as well as future growth is destroyed."

 

With action by the Coalition and NJ-ARP, New Jersey advocates have taken the lead in calling for new leadership at Amtrak.  Advocates here and elsewhere in the nation want improvements in Amtrak management that will keep the trains running and improve the customer experience.  It's not only for Amtrak's customers; projects along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC), like new tunnels into Penn Station, may depend on improved leadership at Amtrak, too. 

 

 

Leading Railroad Trade Magazine Acknowledges Our Concerns

Published: 13 November 2018
Written by David Peter Alan

Railway Age, a leading trade journal in the railroad industry, has published an OpEd letter by this writer, along with an approving response by Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono.

We are reproducing this writer's and Mr. Vantuono's comments as they were published in October, in Railway Age.  We thank Mr. Vantuono for permission to run this content from his magazine, and we especially appreciate his concern about the current situation at NJ Transit.  We will continue to do everything we can to improve our transit and our transit riders' experiences.  The more we and our efforts are noticed, the more we can help the riders, who are our constituents.

Railway Age was first published in 1856.  The link to the story on their web site is https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/if-youre-not-at-the-table-youre-on-the-menu/.

 

 

Here is the content, as it appeared on the Railway Age web site:

 

 

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu

 

Written by David Peter Alan, Chair, Lackawanna Coalition

 

This situation in NJ Transit’s East End Concourse at Penn Station New York has become all-to-familiar to many of the agency’s customers.

Editor’s Note: Following is an edited response to my editorial of Aug. 10, 2018, on a New Jersey Transit board meeting. See below for further clarification.

I noticed William Vantuono’s criticism in Railway Age of me and my advocacy on behalf of New Jersey Transit’s beleaguered rail riders, [and] am proud to have finally earned his attention. Mr. Vantuono criticized me for my passion on behalf of myself, the organization of which I have been chair (Lackawanna Coalition) for almost 19 years, and our constituents who must live with the mobility that the motorists who run NJ Transit dole out to them, going on with their lives in a spirit of nobility and occasional indignation.

Mr. Vantuono cautioned me to “calm down”; yet … it [is] only this level of passion, fueled by the realization that we never know whether a train will actually appear at the station or not, that jolted him into noticing the reality with which we who depend on transit are compelled to live.

When Mr. Vantuono said that our transit got worse under the Christie Administration, he is correct. But why did he refrain from using the power of his forum at Railway Age to complain about the plight of the Garden State’s rail riders at the time? If things were as bad as he says (and I certainly believe they were), he let the riding public down by remaining silent.

I said that our transit has not improved under the [New Jersey Gov. Phil] Murphy Administration; that it has actually become worse, and I stand by that. I depend on transit, and I ride frequently. So I know. I hope that situation will improve, but there will be no improvement as long as the “powers that be” … ridicule and criticize the efforts of civic advocates like me, who dare to speak up in defense of New Jersey’s forgotten riders, who do not even know whether or not they will arrive at their offices on time, or whether they will be able to follow through on their plans for the day, because they can’t be sure that their train will arrive to pick them up.

It would have been much better if my “calm” and less-impassioned delivery in the past had gotten Mr. Vantuono’s attention, along with that of other members of the media. Sadly, it has not. My constituents and I were regularly ignored. When our transit had gotten so bad that I felt no choice but to make my statement in the manner I used, I received more coverage from the media generally than ever before in my 33 years as an advocate for the riding public. I even got his attention, which has never happened before.

So, whatever badge Mr. Vantuono wishes to pin on me, I will wear it proudly, in the service of my fellow transit riders, who deserve better transit. I am delighted so see that Mr. Vantuono finally cares. That took too many years.

Yes, the policies of the Christie Administration were usually bad for transit riders. So are the policies of the Murphy Administration, which has not made the needed changes and also chooses not to listen to us. The legislature is not much help, either, but I will continue to do everything I can to secure better transit for myself and my constituents.

As Mr. Vantuono advises, I can calm down. I am prepared to engage in calm, rational discussions and negotiation with management, on behalf of the riders, with the Board and management who decide how much transit we may have, and when we may have it. However, that requires a “seat at the table” which we certainly do not have now, and never had in the past.

There is an old saying: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” We, the riders of New Jersey Transit, are sick and tired of being on the menu.

Thank you for finally noticing that we exist, Mr. Vantuono. This is, indeed, a step in the right direction.

David Peter Alan is Chair of the Lackawanna Coalition, an independent non-profit organization that advocates for better service on the Morris & Essex (M&E) and Montclair-Boonton rail lines operated by New Jersey Transit, as well as on connecting transportation. The Coalition, founded in 1979, is one of the nation’s oldest rail advocacy organizations. In New Jersey, Alan is a long-time member and/or board member of the NJ Transit Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents Transportation Advisory Committee and Essex County Transportation Advisory Board. Nationally, he belongs to the Rail Users’ Network (RUN). Admitted to the New Jersey and New York Bars in 1981, he is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and a Registered Patent Attorney specializing in intellectual property and business law. Alan holds a B.S. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1970); M.S. in Management Science (M.B.A.) from M.I.T. Sloan School of Management (1971); M.Phil. from Columbia University (1976); and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School (1981).

Editor’s Note: Alan is referring to this specific passage with a video link to an NJTV news report in “Climbing out of a deep hole” (https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/climbing-out-of-a-deep-hole/?RAchannel=home) in which I took note of his strongly worded address to the NJT board of directors: “The situation at NJT ain’t pretty. Murphy and the agency’s Executive Director, Kevin Corbett, are at the center of a public firestorm that reached a boiling point during NJT’s August board meeting, where tempers flared. Just take a look at this NJTV News report. One speaker was practically foaming at the mouth with vitriol. Calm down, David!” No insult or criticism was intended. David Peter Alan has been advocating for better rail transportation in the State of New Jersey since before NJT was established. His passion is admirable, and in many circumstances needs to be heard by those members of NJT’s board who are political appointees and don’t ride the agency’s trains or buses. He isn’t afraid to “get in your face” and speak his mind. I’ve attended several NJT board meetings during my 26 years at Railway Age and have witnessed Alan’s firebrand method of advocacy—and how uncomfortable it has made some NJT board members. Good for you, David! Keep it up. Perhaps some day you and your fellow unhappy commuters will be able to “calm down” because the service you’re getting is worth what you’re paying at the farebox—and right now, it isn’t. Finally, for the record, I’ve written many editorials on NJ Transit, mostly in defense of the agency, whose services I have been using for more than a quarter-century, and of its people, many of whom I consider rail industry colleagues. — William C. Vantuono

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

A Late-Night Victory!

Published: 17 October 2018
Written by David Peter Alan

Late-evening inbound riders from Morris County stations on the Morris & Essex (M&E) Line have lost their last train from Dover for awhile, but they have not lost their mobility.  Thanks to the efforts of the Lackawanna Coalition and the cooperation of NJ Transit managers, these riders will not be stranded.

Train #684, the 11:30 pm departure from Dover for Hoboken, along with a number of other trains, was eliminated from the schedule starting Monday, October 15th.  The same train was also eliminated in 2015, and the Lackawanna Coalition fought to have it returned to the schedule.  Currently, the last inbound train leaves Dover at 10:29; the earliest in living memory.  To avoid having late-evening Morris County riders stranded, we asked NJ Transit to run a bus from Dover and other stations in the county to Summit, where they could catch the last train toward Newark and Hoboken.

On Monday, October 15th, the first weekday without the late train from Dover, we received word from NJ Transit that a Lakeland bus will leave Dover at 11:30 on weeknights, stop at all stations previously on the schedule of Train #684, and drop riders at Summit.  There they can catch Train #442, the last train from Gladstone to Hoboken, which is scheduled to leave Summit at 12:37.  Train #442 makes all stops.  The entire trip will take about 30 minutes longer than it took on Train #684, but there is an indoor waiting room at Summit, and NJ Transit assures us that the trains which have been eliminated from the schedule will return in January, after Positive Train Control (PTC) is installed.  Until then, the riders who must do without Train #684 will not be stranded.  Week-end schedules are not affected by this change.

We thank Paul Wyckoff, NJ Transit’s Chief of Government and External Affairs, and Mike Kilcoyne, VP for Bus Operations, for their prompt response to our request and for implementing a solution that will prevent our constituents from being stranded until the next morning.

This is a victory for the Lackawanna Coalition and our constituents, as well as a good example of a positive result achived through cooperation between the Coalition and NJ Transit management.

 

 

 

 

NJT Cuts More Trains; M&E and Gladstone Most Severely Affected

Published: 21 September 2018
Written by David Peter Alan

New Jersey Transit (NJT) has announced that more trains will be eliminated, so the agency can continue to install needed equipment for Positive Train Control (PTC).  As the year-end deadline approaches, NJT must accelerate its program to install the equipment in locomotives and cab cars, and on the lines.

The Morris & Essex (M&E) and Gladstone Lines are the most severely-affected, with eight weekday trains eliminated.  These include the last train of the evening from Dover to Hoboken, which currently leaves at 11:30.  We are concerned about this train, because it is the last train of the night, and because we previously fought to have it restored to the schedule after it had been eliminated in 2015.  The last departure from Dover will be at 10:29 after the new schedules take effect on October 14th; the earliest in memory.

There will be no Gladstone trains on the week-ends; there will be substitute bus service west of Summit, instead.  The Coalition was pleasantly surprised when Gladstone trains ran this past summer, but the service outage will occur during the fall and winter, instead.  Similarly, the "Dinky" train in Princeton will not run on week-ends; buses will also substitute for those trains.

The first train from Hoboken to Montclair State Station will also be a casualty.  It currently leaves at 6:11, but the first train will not leave until 6:42 under the new schedule.

There are also cuts on the Main/Bergen, North Jersey Coast and Northeast Corridor (NEC) lines, but they will not be as severe as the service reductions on the M&E and Gladstone lines.  The Pascack Valley and Raritan Valley Lines are not affected, but Raritan Valley "one-seat ride" service to New York was eliminated after Labor Day.  So was all service on the Atlantic City Rail Line.

NJT management says that these cuts are temporary, and we consider that a promise.  We know that the cuts will constitute a hardship for some of our constituents, and will be inconvenient for many more.  We know that the deadline for installing PTC is a strict one, but we believe it would have been better if management had worked with us about revising the schedules on our lines, rather than pulling several trains from the schedule, especially the last inbound train of the night from Dover and the first train of the morning to Montclair.

There are other trains that will not be removed from the schedule, but whose times will be changed.  In some cases, the changes will be significant.  We suggest that you check the new schedules when they appear.  At this writing, they have not been posted on NJT's web site, www.njtransit.com, nor are they available in "hard copy" form.

We will continue to monitor the situation.  We remain concerned that more trains will be eliminated before the year is over, and that the pattern of annulling trains (cancelling them before they leave their point of origin) will continue.  We also want to be sure that every train that we have lost is restored to the schedule as soon as possible.

 

 

Join is for "Coffee and Commuting" in Short Hills or South Orange

Published: 18 September 2018
Written by David Peter Alan

Our version of a "Coffee Hour" is coming soon to selected stations on the Morris & Essex Line, but instead of taking up an hour of your time, we will accommodate your commuting schedule.  As part of our outreach program, we will be holding "Coffee and Commuting" sessions on two successive Tuesday mornings: September 25th in Short Hills and October 2d in South Orange.  Through the courtesy of the towns, we will be present at the station those mornings to meet you while you are on the way to catch your train.

So, whether you are a commuter or an occasional rider catching an early train, stop by and meet us.  Let us know your concerns about our rail service, so we can pass them along to NJ Transit and to appropriate elected officials.  We would like to tell you more about us, too, and about what we are doing to advocate for you and your communities.

We invite you to have a cup of coffee with us (genuine Brazilian coffee imported from the Ironbound in Newark), grab a copy of our newsletter the Railgram, and let us know how we can help you.  We plan to start about 6:30 and stay at least until we run out of coffee.

So don't miss "Coffee and Commuting" with us.  It's coming soon!

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Meeting Dates

The Coalition normally meets on the fourth Monday of the month at Millburn Town Hall, which is a short walk from the train station. (Walking Directions)
If you are coming to a Coalition meeting for the first time, here are directions from the Millburn Train Station. If you are coming from New York or somewhere else east of Millburn, walk down the stairs in the building and through the tunnel under the tracks. If you are coming from west of Millburn, walk down the stairs in the middle of the platform. Cross Essex Street and walk on more block to Millburn Avenue. Turn right on Millburn Avenue and walk about three blocks to Town Hall, located at 375 Millburn Avenue. The side door, facing the parking lot, is normally open.
  • 2/27/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 3/27/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
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  • 4/24/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 5/22/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 6/26/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 7/24/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 8/28/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 9/25/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
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  • 10/23/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 11/27/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 12/25/2023 - Coalition General Meeting
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
  • 1/22/2024 - Coalition General Meeting (tentative)
    (6:45 PM, Millburn Town Hall, Second Floor Conference Room )
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