Bordentown Secondary
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Conrail's Bordentown Secondary is a freight line in New Jersey, running from Pavonia Yard in Camden to Trenton. Today, a large portion of the line from Bordentown to Camden is used for New Jersey Transit's River Line light rail service; as a result, freight movement on the line is restricted to overnight hours.
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[edit] History
The trackage that makes up the much of the present-day Bordentown Secondary was originally laid by the Camden and Amboy Railroad to complete their connection between New York and Philadelphia, via ferries between Pier 1 in New York City, NY and South Amboy, NJ, and between Camden, NJ and Philadelphia, PA. The Camden and Amboy was eventually purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad, became a Penn Central Transportation line after the Pennsylvania RR-New York Central Railroad merger, and was transferred to Conrail in 1976.
The line was purchased by New Jersey Transit in 1999 for its River Line light rail service between Trenton and Camden. As part of the deal, Conrail retains trackage rights over the line.
[edit] Today
At present, the line is primarily used for New Jersey Transit's River Line light rail service, which operates on the same tracks used by freight trains for much of its route. To achieve Federal Railroad Administration approval for the operation, light rail and freight operations are time separated. Conrail's agreement with New Jersey Transit gives exclusive access to light rail operations from 06:00 to 22:00 Sunday through Friday, and all of Saturday (including Saturday night). Conrail has exclusive access for freight service during the overnight hours, but may run trains at any other time with prior approval from New Jersey Transit or in emergencies.
Much of the line between Bordentown and the Northeast Corridor is out of service; the track has been pulled up or paved over in several places. In February 2006, the NJ Department of Transportation proposed removing two road crossings on the northern portion of the line.
[edit] References
- ^ railroad.net forum post
- ^ The Trentonian, Feb. 17, 2006.
