ML111

Does anyone know the history of the arrangement between Olympia, NJT and the Port Authority regarding the Line 300 between Port Authority and Newark Airport?

Was this an outright purchase of the line by Olympia or is there a franchise right involved with the Port Authority to access the terminal?

Thank you in advance for any info you can share.

On 12/11/2020 at 6:17 PM, trainfan22 said:

 

Speaking of AC - NYC bus service, Greyhound completely ruined their AC bound runs as they seem to stop at each casino now rather than go straight to AC Bus terminal from NY. This added a whole hour to the runtime which now takes three hours and 30 minutes to travel between NYC and AC bus terminal, a whole hour longer than the previous run time. 

Upwards of 70-80% of the ridership on the Greyhound service is going to the casinos.  Greyhound knows this and has acted accordingly.  

In addition, the Terminal is also the designated parking location in between trips.  Having that as the last stop makes sense and saves money.

Pre-pandemic, the company ran up to 15-20 schedules each day and as a result you can be selective on which of the 5 casinos are served.

Now, they run 5-8 schedules a day - you can't be selective and there's less people overall.  Alas, all schedules do the 4 boardwalk-side casinos.

23 hours ago, B35 via Church said:

Neither of which are all that common (compared to Greyhound), but there are more pax out of Toms River that tote luggages onto the #319 than anyone from AC bus terminal...

It's a tale of different seasons....

Pre-Pandemic, non Summer = you're correct

Pre-Pandemic, Summer until Columbus Day = 70% pax with luggage to AC, 30% to Toms River

Now = 90% luggage to AC, 10% to Toms River

On 1/17/2020 at 7:53 PM, Jova42R said:

Who will take over the 11C and 20/84?

No one unfortunately.  Schedules were basically shed to near nothing, with unreliable service that scared off what was left of the ridership.

Perhaps a select extension of a few 186s north of the current Dumont terminus, but that's about it, if anything.

25 minutes ago, Uncle Floyd Fan said:

SJU will need to update their info on shuttle service.

https://www.stjohns.edu/life-st-johns/student-services/shuttle-bus-service

Curious to see who will run it in the near future....maybe Peter Pan again?

Highly unlikely - they're stretched as is with their line run business since their split with Greyhound.

When they go out completely - this is now a when vs. an if, we may see a new carrier enter the mix - Trans Express/National Express would be my bet.  

On 1/27/2019 at 12:49 AM, The TransitMan said:

What yard are they at?    Thanks for the information!

They're based in Perth Amboy and mostly run the SIM 23/24 - augments the Canadian buses (the lower 1900s), which have been a disaster....

8938-8940 are now Hoboken based at Academy.  Not sure if Toms River received anything in return.

I think the last batch is at Leonardo. I don't think Perth Amboy has any yet because I haven't seen any on the Sayreville line, which Perth Amboy does.

They received a few - mostly used on the Route 9 work they cover.  

Greyhound used to be more expensive than all commuter rail and buses (on par with Amtrak). But these days curb side buses and even the old "legacy" buses offer competition, therefore decreasing price. NJT, is taxpayer funded, and therefore no incentive to really lower price, but as a commuter service they offer connecting service further south, but to their credit they did introduce the RT Fare discount

Greyhound charges that fare because it's not primarily an intercity or commuter route (NY-AC).  It's primary role is a express service to the casinos.  Upwards of 90% of the clientele taking those buses are going to one of the five casinos that still "greet" buses and purchased a round trip.  Since that's their primary business, they charge the market rate equivalent based on time and distance for the one way.   If you search on greyhound.com, most of the city pairs that are within mileage range of AC from NYC (i.e. Wilmington, Albany, Hartford), are approximately the same price give or take $5.

Nearly all of the terminal-based passengers are one way or "thru" connecting from NYC, Philly or DC from other locations, or one ways.

The price has absolutely nothing to do with competition anymore.  The Greyhound fare has stayed the same for almost 5 years now - except for the Friday night surcharge of $45 round trip implemented two or three years ago.  Up until the early 2000s Greyhound was competing with Academy on price on this route - this was when AC was still a "casino bus" town, prior to the PA casinos opening and Empire and Aqueduct in NYC.  They would match each other dollar for dollar, schedule for schedule.  

I have never seen 8951-52 @ that Toms River lot; I been on site there a few times recently.

They are almost always signed for Parkway Express during the week, so I'm not sure. The Forked River runs are primarily out of Pomona, the Monmouth runs out of Toms River and Pomona, and the PNC runs are from Leonardo. Leonardo doesn't have them and Pomona doesn't use them on a regular basis for AC - even though they are put on those runs on Saturdays.

I don't know.

I can say with almost certainty that Academy's D4500s, 8926-8950 and D4505's 8951-8952 are Toms River based.

With the D4000s, they are allocated across the system, Hoboken, Perth Amboy, Leonardo, Toms River, and Westampton all have them. I don't have the fleet numbers, sorry

SJP,

To the best of my knowledge, here are the Academy line runs by terminal:

Hoboken

22 Hillside - 2, 22, 23, 88, 119

Tri-State - Columbia University/ NYU

Academy Express - PABT -Atlantic City

Secaucus

Academy Express - Newark Airport-Long Term Parking

Perth Amboy

NJT Contract: 800-805, 810,811,813,814,815,817,818,819,822

Academy Express: Empire City, IKEA Shuttle, PABT-Atlantic City

Academy Lines: Sayreville, Route 9 (139 sections north of Gordons Corner)

Leonardo

Academy Lines: Route 35, Route 36, PNC Bank Arts Center-PABT/Wall Street, Parkway Express-Jersey City, Red Bank-Wall Street

Toms River

Academy Lines: Route 9 (both Wall Street and 139 sections south of Gordons Corner), Jackson/Manchester, Asbury Park/Shore Points, Parkway Express

Academy Express: Empire City, PABT-Atlantic City

Pomona

Academy Lines: Parkway Express

Academy Express: PABT-Atlantic City

Westampton

Academy Lines: Willingboro/Westampton, Line 300 (split with Suburban)

With the equipment, the only buses you will be able to account for are the NJT-leased Nova's - the question you need to answer (which I don't have) is what buses are marked "22 Hillside" and what buses are marked "Academy Express." As for the MCIs, well....since they are always shifted because of the charter work, it's hard to tell. I know Pomona has 8921-8925 and 8942-8945, but after that it's a toss up.