Atlantic City Express (Amtrak train)

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This article is about the Amtrak train service. For the NJ Transit train service, see Atlantic City Express Service.
Atlantic City Express
An Atlantic City Express train at Atlantic City in 1989
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleNew Jersey, New York City
PredecessorNellie Bly
First serviceMay 23, 1989[1][2]
Last serviceApril 1, 1995
SuccessorAtlantic City Line, Atlantic City Express Service
Former operator(s)Amtrak
Route
TerminiRichmond, Harrisburg, Springfield
Atlantic City
Train number(s)653, 654, 660-668, 670, 682, 685, 693, 696
On-board services
Class(es)Reserved coach
Disabled accessYes
Catering facilitiesOn-board cafe
Baggage facilitiesLuggage racks
Technical
Rolling stock
Electrification25 Hz, 12kV along NEC
Track owner(s)Amtrak, NJ Transit

The Atlantic City Express was an Amtrak train that ran from Harrisburg, New York City, Richmond, Springfield and Washington, D.C. to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the Northeastern United States. The train operated on the Northeast Corridor to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it went east to Atlantic City.

History

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The new service started service in May 1989, after Amtrak spent extra Northeast Corridor improvement funds to rehabilitate the 60.3 mile long Atlantic City Line from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The train was designed to provide service to gamblers and vacationers. The train made a single local stop on the Atlantic City Line. Amtrak completely renovated the Lindenwold Station and it served as a stop until July 1994, when the local stop was changed to the new Cherry Hill station due to low ridership at Lindenwold.[3]

Amtrak also operated some through services from Atlantic City to Richmond, Virginia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In June 1990, Amtrak entered into a partnership with Midway Airlines to operate trains from Philadelphia International Airport to Atlantic City via SEPTA. However, the service was short-lived, as Midway Airlines went bankrupt in the summer of 1991.

The Amtrak service to Atlantic City never hit its expected ridership levels. In another effort to gain more riders, service was extended to Springfield, Massachusetts and New Haven, Connecticut. Even then, most passengers traveled between New York and Philadelphia rather than continue on to Atlantic City. Amtrak also had to compete with a number of bus lines offering discounted rates at casinos. Although the trains were moderately successful, Amtrak still deemed that the poor showing of riders was not enough to warrant train service, and plans were made to discontinue the line. All Amtrak service to Atlantic City was discontinued after April 1, 1995. The following day, New Jersey Transit extended all Atlantic City Line trains to Philadelphia; previously only a select few had run west of Lindenwold.[3]

Atlantic City Express Service

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Main article: Atlantic City Express Service

A successor to the former Amtrak service, Atlantic City Express Service (ACES), began a weekend express train from New York Penn Station to Atlantic City on February 6, 2009. The service was sponsored by several casinos and was run by New Jersey Transit over the Northeast Corridor and the Atlantic City Lines, with a stop in Newark.[4] The last train ran in September 2011,[5] with the train formally discontinued in 2012.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Wittkowski, Donald (May 22, 1989). "First Gamblers' Express train arrives at new A.C. railroad station". Press of Atlantic City.
  2. ^ Henderson, Nell (May 23, 1989). "Amtrak Takes a Chance on 'Gamblers' Express'". Washington Post.
  3. ^ a b Waltzer, Jim (October 6, 2005). "Waltz Through Time: An Express Derailed". Atlantic City Weekly. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Salkin, Allen (December 15, 2008). "A Luxury Train, Bound for Atlantic City". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "ACES rail line between Atlantic City and New York shuts down for fall and winter". Press of Atlantic City. September 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  6. ^ "Casinos end ACES express train to Atlantic City". nj.com. Associated Press. March 9, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
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