Singleton to Host Public Meeting with NJ TRANSIT President on River LINE Reliability, Accountability and Safety
PALMYRA, NJ — An upcoming public meeting with NJ TRANSIT officials will focus on the River LINE’s “service reliability, accountability, communication and safety.”
Hosted by State Senator Troy Singleton, the meeting will take place on Thursday, November 13 from 6PM to 8PM at the Palmyra Community Center, located at 30 W. Broad Street in Palmyra.
NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri will attend. A public comment session will follow a presentation from NJ TRANSIT.
NJ TRANSIT announced in September that it would be assuming direct control of the River LINE from its outside independent contractor, Alstom, saying that the mutually-agreed decision stemmed from the “evolving investment needs of the service, which have grown beyond the current scope of Alstom’s contract covering River LINE operations and maintenance. This transition will enable NJ TRANSIT to be best positioned to shape and implement the next steps that will strengthen and enhance the future of the service.”
“As NJ TRANSIT assumes full operation of the River LINE, we felt it was necessary to bring leadership back before the public to share its improvement plan and outline any progress made since our last meeting," said Senator Singleton in announcing the November 13 meeting. "A year ago, riders voiced real concerns about cancellations and delays, communication failures, and safety issues that have undermined confidence in the system. We’re hopeful that this new transition will mark a turning point in overall reliability, timeliness, and service.”
The River LINE has been plagued by problems since at least 2023, when “continued operational challenges” by Alstom, including operator availability and supply chain and equipment issues, caused delays, canceled trains and limited service on the rail system. Further, a deadly crash involving a 15-year-old boy and a River LINE train in Palmyra occurred in August 2024, as well as a deadly collision between a train and a tree near Roebling in October 2024.
Frequent complaints from constituents about the rail service led State Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) to hold a town-hall style meeting last October with NJ Transit executives.
“Alstom, who is responsible for the operations and maintenance of River LINE… has not met our expectations and we know it certainly has not met yours,” Corbett said.
“Today’s announcement – that NJ TRANSIT will assume the operation and maintenance of the River LINE – is a welcome one if it means that we will see tangible progress in modernizing service, making needed investments, implementing real-time updates, enhancing safety measures, and improving the overall rider experience,” said Singleton in September when the transition was announced. “Efficiency, reliability, and safety aren’t luxuries – they are the foundation of a transit system. I will continue to hold NJ TRANSIT accountable to those standards.”
Members of the public who plan on attending the November 13 meeting should RSVP at https://www.troysingleton.com/riverline2025.