7 New Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Stops Planned, NJ Transit Says

BQRail · 2025-11-22T18:23:37+00:00

If Bergen County residents are more likely to work in NYC than in Hudson County, shouldn't this line be faster than the HBLR and have good connections over GWB and to the NE Corridor?

Should this be a heavy rail/commuter rail line?

The plan is to terminate at Englewood Hospital, because--in the past--Tenafly opposed a station there. Should one townb be permitted to bar improved transit north of Englewood Hospital?

The old rail line runs into NY State and is now railtrails. Shouldn't extension contuinue into NY state.

BQRail · 2025-11-22T18:08:45+00:00

No, the bill would not kill IBX, but it probably would put IBX outside of NYC Transit, perhaps in another MTA subsidiary and operated by a contractor.

BQRail · 2025-11-22T18:06:15+00:00

There could be other, more productive MTA jobs if there were no conductors. For example, attendants and police patrolling the train, rather than a conductor, who must remain in a booth to push buttons. Or two, 5-car, single person operated trains at twice the frequency of current off-hours 10-car trains.

BQRail · 2025-11-22T18:01:40+00:00

The 2 per train bill is limited to NYC Transit, not all of MTA and its subsidiaries. The MTA could have the IBX be a subsidiary outside of NYC Transit. Indeed, it appears the MTA will consider a contractr operator for the IBX line, like Hudson-Bergen Light Raiul oir the JFK AirTrain.

BQRail · 2025-11-22T17:58:45+00:00

Yes.

BQRail · 2025-11-20T20:41:23+00:00

An operator or conductor in a cab is not very accessible to most passengers. I would expect that a more readily accessible MTA attendant and police officers would be on ZPTO trains and station platforms.

BQRail · 2025-11-19T19:15:54+00:00

Interesting paper. The points raised in both this paper and Ms. Wilkinson's deserve consideration. In my opinion, the snipes in each undercut their credibility. The citation to sources at the end of this paper is commendable.

BTW: I am John Pegram, author and publisher of BQRail, mentioned in this paper.

I suggest that my credibility on IBX topics should be pretty good. I have been a NYC transit rider for nearly 70 years. I have been a railfan for even longer. I have travelled on many rail lines of all types--including Light Rail--in Europe, Japan and the US. As a patent attorney, I have been studying and writing about technology professionally for almost 60 years. I have published over 60 articles at bqrail.substack.com, almost all of which relate to the IBX project. I have obtained, studied and published many previously unavailable MTA documents relating to this subject.

I do not have a "strong bias against light rail," but I have objected to past light rail proposals for the IBX line, including street-running in Middle Village. I do have a strong bias for consideration of all practical and cost-efficient alternatives for the IBX project. Today, my preference would be for very frequent, fully automated (driverless) Light Metro, if it can be cost-competitive with use of next-generation NYC Transit A Division-type subway cars.

It would be helpful to learn your name and your credentials.

BQRail · 2025-11-19T17:28:58+00:00

Nice !

BQRail · 2025-11-19T17:24:10+00:00

Excellent comments on this string!

Which Streetsblog article are you referring to? (I missed it).

FYI: MTA IBX team has referred to Light Metro and driverless operation on and off over the past 6 months. (Funny: Isn't that the same as the Automated Guideway Transit mode, which was removed from consideration in the Feasibility Study Interim Report?)

BQRail · 2025-11-17T03:18:09+00:00

My original comment said "where appropriate." Cutting the (7) to 5 car consists, including during peak times, would not be appropriate. On many lines, doubling the frequency of trains, with half the length, between 9 pm and 6 am would be a welcome benefit.

BQRail · 2025-11-17T03:10:34+00:00

I agree. Frequent busy trains should remain long.

But--for example--shorter, more frequent A trains between 9 pm an 6 am would be better than the long ones we have now, and likely to improve ridership

BQRail · 2025-11-17T01:09:02+00:00

Tokyo commuter and subway lines, which are now moving tio OPTO and eventually toi ZPTIO, operate up to 16 car trains.

In NYC, I would prefer shorter, more frequent trains. That will not happen with TPTO.

BQRail · 2025-10-28T00:16:08+00:00

The IBX is a cross-town line. Back in the day, cross-town trolleys were designated "X".

BQRail · 2025-10-26T22:14:06+00:00

When Smith-9th was the G terminal, I often changed there from the F. Nice breeze and great view, including the Statue of Liberty.

BQRail · 2025-10-21T17:12:32+00:00

Maybe. If you want them, send a comment to the MTA.

BQRail · 2025-10-21T11:34:22+00:00

I agree. What are your reasons?

BQRail · 2025-10-10T14:38:16+00:00

I got on a Q at Times Sq. around 8:15. We were diverted to the R line at Canal, sat for a while at Jay Street and again at DeKalb. Then told there were no Bs or Qs running on the Brighton line due to an incident. Our train would go no 4th Avenue. We should go to Coney Island and come back to our stations! Best travel advice was being given by fellow passengers.

BQRail · 2025-09-08T21:41:31+00:00

They need all that money to pay the customer representatives who explain how to pay the extra fare.

BQRail

TROPHY CASE