All PATH trains running along the WTC-NWK line now consist of nine cars rather than the traditional eight, offering customers more breathing room during their commute. PATH started round-the-clock service with nine-car trains in October. With capacity at 110 riders per car, an extra car means more room and comfort as commuters return to PATH after a dramatic ridership drop caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, PATH launched nine-car service during peak hours in March 2023 with a dedication ceremony at the PATH station in Harrison, N.J., that included New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole, and Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. It was the first step in an ambitious plan to expand capacity by 40% on the WTC-NWK line. Key to the plan was the delivery of PATH’s 72 new railcars, which have since increased the current car fleet total to 422. All 72 new cars are now in service, enabling PATH to shorten wait times between trains from an average of five minutes to four during peak hours.
“We’re not back to the ridership levels of the pre-COVID days, but we’re getting there, and extra capacity at all hours, including off-peak and weekends, is essential in providing more comfort and a better commuting experience for our riders,” said PATH Director/General Manager Clarelle DeGraffe.
PATH is serving nearly 70% of its pre-pandemic ridership on weekdays and more than 90% on weekends.
The Port Authority has made major investments in railcars and maintenance through two recent infrastructure and facility initiatives: the $1 billion PATH Improvement Plan introduced in 2019 that funded the 72-car purchase, and the current two-year PATH Forward that invests $430 million in new infrastructure, tracks, station improvements and customization and maintenance of the PATH fleet. Of that investment, $62 million is earmarked for railcar stabilization, propulsion and auxiliary power systems for older PATH cars.
At the conclusion of the two-year PATH Forward initiative, customers will benefit from more reliable rides and brighter, more comfortable refurbished stations on the fifth-busiest rapid transit system in the United States.
Keeping the fleet rolling and well-maintained is the work of PATH’s Car Equipment Division (CED), which operates out of the railroad’s sprawling car maintenance facility in Harrison under the direction of Superintendent Pete Harris and Assistant Superintendent Ian Mitchell.
Harris has worked with PATH for 25 years, serving the past eight as a superintendent. Mitchell has been with PATH for 28 years and was appointed assistant superintendent in 2020. Together, they lead a division that is essentially the backbone of PATH’s railcar reliability and maintenance. About 230 electricians, mechanics, and other staff make up the CED staff.
“We are the PATH team you don’t see,” Mitchell said. “Basically, our teams work mostly behind the scenes. More cars mean more availability, more capacity. We are reducing the length of time passengers need to wait for their next train, and we hear from our customers they are happy with the move.”
Railcar stabilization is a critical component of the PATH Forward initiative to modernize the 116-year-old railroad. For the CED staff, that means modernizing 135 older railcars through new propulsion systems, mechanical fixes and replacements, and enhanced safety features. The fleet is regularly inspected by the Federal Railroad Administration. More than half of the division’s staff is dedicated to ensuring that PATH meets federal regulations.
“We provide the one thing that all of our customers see – the cars,” Harris said. “Our focus is to make sure we give our customers safe and reliable transportation each and every day.”
