Meadowlands Rail Line
Encyclopedia
Meadowlands Rail Line is a rail line in New Jersey
, United States
, operated by New Jersey Transit
(NJT). Trains run between the MetLife Sports Complex and Secaucus Junction
, some with continuing service to Hoboken Terminal
. There is a limited service on the line, with trains only operating in conjunction with major events.
Upon its opening on July 20, 2009, it became the newest route of New Jersey Transit rail operations
. It is represented on NJT maps with the color white; unlike other lines, it does not have a logo. It was built at a cost of $185 million.
and New York Giants
games. Trains begin running 3 1/2 hours before an event and stop up to two hours after its conclusion. Travel time between Meadowlands Station
and Secaucus Junction
is 10 to 13 minutes; the complete trip to or from Hoboken Terminal
takes about 23 minutes. The agency considers full capacity to be 10,000 passengers per hour. NJT officials have said they will begin daily service when the American Dream Meadowlands retail and entertainment complex opens.
was built as a part of the rail network expansion and is next to MetLife Stadium, equidistant from the Meadowlands Racetrack
and the American Dream Meadowlands, and near the Izod Center.
Secaucus Junction is a major interchange station
for NJ Transit where all but
three of its commuter lines stop. Connections are available to the Northeast Corridor Line
and the North Jersey Coast Line
to New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station and points south; the Morris and Essex Lines Midtown Direct to New York Penn Station and points west; the Main Line
, the Bergen County Line
, and the Pascack Valley Line
to points north. At its eastern terminus Hoboken Terminal
connections to PATH
trains, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, New York Waterway ferries and local buses
are available.
The Train to the Game is an excursion train operated jointly by Metro-North Railroad
and NJ Transit. For Sunday football games starting at 1 pm, three trains originate at New Haven. They travel through southwestern Connecticut
and Westchester County
cross Manhattan
via New York Penn (thus avoiding the normally required transfer from Grand Central Terminal
) and continue through the North River Tunnels as regular NJT trains to Secaucus Junction.
site was also contentious.
The opening ceremonies for the line took place on July 20, 2009. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
, New York Giants owner John Mara
, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, and players from the Giants and Jets rode a special train from Hoboken to the new station for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The station opened to the public on July 26, 2009, for the championship game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup
tournament between the United States
and Mexico. It is estimated that 6,000 arrived via the new rail line.
Ridership to National Football League
games increased by 50 percent in the rail line's second year of operation. In 2010, about 10,500 attendees at New York Jets games and 8,000 attendees at New York Giants games arrived by train.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, operated by New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
(NJT). Trains run between the MetLife Sports Complex and Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
, some with continuing service to Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
. There is a limited service on the line, with trains only operating in conjunction with major events.
Upon its opening on July 20, 2009, it became the newest route of New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
. It is represented on NJT maps with the color white; unlike other lines, it does not have a logo. It was built at a cost of $185 million.
Service
NJ Transit runs trains along the Meadowlands Rail Line for events where 50,000 or more attendees are expected, including New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
games. Trains begin running 3 1/2 hours before an event and stop up to two hours after its conclusion. Travel time between Meadowlands Station
Meadowlands (NJT station)
Meadowlands Sports Complex Station, or Meadowlands Station, is New Jersey Transit train station that is the western teminus for the Meadowlands Rail Line located at the MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
and Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
is 10 to 13 minutes; the complete trip to or from Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
takes about 23 minutes. The agency considers full capacity to be 10,000 passengers per hour. NJT officials have said they will begin daily service when the American Dream Meadowlands retail and entertainment complex opens.
Stations and connections
The Meadowlands StationMeadowlands (NJT station)
Meadowlands Sports Complex Station, or Meadowlands Station, is New Jersey Transit train station that is the western teminus for the Meadowlands Rail Line located at the MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
was built as a part of the rail network expansion and is next to MetLife Stadium, equidistant from the Meadowlands Racetrack
Meadowlands Racetrack
The Meadowlands Racetrack is a horse racing track at the MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States.The track hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness racing...
and the American Dream Meadowlands, and near the Izod Center.
Secaucus Junction is a major interchange station
Interchange station
An interchange station or a transfer station is a train station for more than one railway route in a public transport system, and allows passengers to change from one route to another. Transfer may occur within the same mode, or between rail modes, or to buses...
for NJ Transit where all but
three of its commuter lines stop. Connections are available to the Northeast Corridor Line
Northeast Corridor Line
The Northeast Corridor Line is a commuter rail operation run by New Jersey Transit along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It is the successor to commuter services provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad along the section between Trenton, New Jersey and New York Penn Station...
and the North Jersey Coast Line
North Jersey Coast Line
The North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail service operating between New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal and Bay Head, New Jersey...
to New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station and points south; the Morris and Essex Lines Midtown Direct to New York Penn Station and points west; the Main Line
Main Line (NJ Transit)
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by New Jersey Transit running from Suffern, New York to Hoboken, New Jersey. It runs daily commuter service and was once the north-south main line of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
, the Bergen County Line
Bergen County Line
The Bergen County Line is a commuter rail line and service owned and operated by New Jersey Transit in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The line loops off the Main Line between the Meadowlands and Glen Rock, with trains continuing in either direction along the Main Line...
, and the Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
to points north. At its eastern terminus Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
connections to PATH
Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
trains, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, New York Waterway ferries and local buses
Hudson Place (Hoboken)
Hudson Place, designated Hudson County Route 736, is a 0.05 mile long street in Hoboken, New Jersey that runs along the north side of Hoboken Terminal, providing the only automobile access to the major transportation hub...
are available.
The Train to the Game is an excursion train operated jointly by Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
and NJ Transit. For Sunday football games starting at 1 pm, three trains originate at New Haven. They travel through southwestern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
cross Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
via New York Penn (thus avoiding the normally required transfer from Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
) and continue through the North River Tunnels as regular NJT trains to Secaucus Junction.
History
The Meadowlands Sports Complex, which opened in 1976, was until 2009 accessible only via automobile or bus. The decision to build a rail line to it was welcome but the route was a source of controversy. A portion of the line is 2.3 miles (3.7 km)-long spur connected via a new wye connection to the existing network. The line as built is a spur line off the Pascack Valley Line, which travels further than if it had branched directly off the Bergen County Line. The decision to spend $6.2 million to acquire a right-of-way that travels through a federal SuperfundSuperfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site was also contentious.
The opening ceremonies for the line took place on July 20, 2009. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
, New York Giants owner John Mara
John Mara
John Kevin Mara is the president, CEO, and co-owner of the New York Giants.Mara was born in New York City and grew up in White Plains, New York. He is the oldest son of Ann and former Giants owner Wellington Mara. He attended Iona Preparatory School in nearby New Rochelle, graduating in 1972. He...
, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, and players from the Giants and Jets rode a special train from Hoboken to the new station for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The station opened to the public on July 26, 2009, for the championship game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
tournament between the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and Mexico. It is estimated that 6,000 arrived via the new rail line.
Ridership to National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
games increased by 50 percent in the rail line's second year of operation. In 2010, about 10,500 attendees at New York Jets games and 8,000 attendees at New York Giants games arrived by train.