PATH readies full weekend service restoration
Written by Douglas John BowenWeekend PATH service between the World Trade Center and Exchange Place in Jersey City is scheduled to resume Friday evening, completing the final phase of service restoration to the system following disruption due to Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012.
Along with Hoboken Station (and New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken Terminal above the namesake PATH station), Hurricane Sandy inflicted significant damage to Exchange Place Station and nearby tunnels, including those under the Hudson River.
Total damage costs to PATH due to the hurricane are pegged at about $800 million.<br><Br>
Weekday service between the World Trade Center and New Jersey points (including Exchange Place) was restored in late January on a limited basis, with trains running under severe restrictions–what one PATH employee described sweepingly to Railway Age as “antiquated railroad rules.” That included allowing only one train travel under the Hudson River at a time in each direction.
For example, PATH dispatchers would allow the next New York-bound train at Exchange Place to proceed under the Hudson River once the train ahead had reached the World Trade Center platform and come to a stop.
PATH is installing communications-based train control (CBTC) throughout its bistate, 13-station system.
