PATH officials said Hoboken Terminal will reopen early Tuesday morning after a shutdown to finish track work that’s impacted commuters since mid-July.
The agency said the terminal would reopen at 5 a.m. following the five-day closure.
“Hoboken station will be reopening on time tomorrow morning,” said Seth Stein, a PATH spokesperson. “We have completed all the track repairs and service will run as normal.”
The repairs that started at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 28 closed PATH’s Hoboken terminal for five days over the Labor Day holiday weekend to allow work crews to replace parts of a complicated track interlocking, which was blamed for a July 12 derailment.
The interlocking is a complex network that allows trains to switch tracks between Hudson River tunnels and Hoboken Terminals three station platforms.
Agency officials said Monday PATH will meet its promised reopening in time for the Tuesday morning commuting rush — a relief to riders and Hudson County elected officials who voiced concern.
The ongoing track issues had led some PATH riders and public officials to dub this a summer of hell for the bi-state rail line’s commuters. PATH is also used by commuters from NJ Transit and suburban Bergen County rail lines.
Work has been ongoing since the derailment and the decision to replace parts of the interlocking (called switch points), which guide train wheels to another track. Guard rails, which prevent a train from hitting tunnels walls in the event of a derailment rail were also replaced.
Crews had to re-compact stone ballast that supports the tracks after warping had been detected.
The interlocking was part of a $31 million terminal rehabilitation done in February that required closing PATH’s Hoboken station for 25 days. February and Labor Day weekend were chosen because ridership is lighter than other times of the year, officials said.
During the five day closure, PATH offered free shuttle buses between Hoboken and two Jersey City PATH stations. The agency ran more service on its other lines.
NJ Transit cross honored PATH tickets on light rail and rail lines. NY Waterway ferries also offered a discount ferry ticket with proof passengers were PATH riders.
PATH officials are also still under pressure from riders and public officials who’ve demanded more frequent mid-day, over night and weekend service for growing Hudson and Essex County.
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