NJ Transit doesn’t need federal approval to resume service on three suspended rail lines that were sidelined for months to install Positive Train Control, Federal Railroad Administration officials said.

“New Jersey Transit does not need approval from FRA to reinstate commuter rail service on the lines where NJT had voluntarily decided to temporarily reduce or suspend service, including the Atlantic City Line,” said Warren Flateau, an FRA spokesman. “NJ Transit may, at any time, resume commuter rail service on those lines.”

The comments come in response to Gov. Phil Murphy and other officials, who said they were waiting for FRA approval as one of several issues to be overcome before service can be restored.

Please restore the Atlantic City Rail Line. The trains brought thousands of visitors and commuters into the City every week. Our economy and our work force are being adversely affected each passing day without rail service — Jim Curcio (@jmcurcio_jim) January 23, 2019

NJ Transit officials reiterated reasons they’ve stated previously for pushing resumption of service to spring 2019. It depends on available train crews and equipment. The agency is still coping with an engineer shortage and completing back inspections on locomotives and rail cars, officials said. That’s in addition to installing, certifying and testing Positive Train Control by an ultimate Dec. 31, 2020 deadline.

“In consideration of these many variables, NJ Transit plans to begin restoring rail service that has been subject to temporary service adjustments in the second quarter of 2019, starting with the Atlantic City Rail Line and the Princeton Branch (the Dinky),” said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. “NJ Transit will communicate updates as new information becomes available.”

Commuter advocates and legislators have pressed NJ Transit for specific dates when the trains will start rolling again.

“We are relieved to know that NJ Transit can restore service on every line without special permission,” said David Peter Alan, Lackawanna Commuter Coalition chairman. “That is one excuse for delay that they cannot invoke. We are tired of waiting, and we want all of our trains back.”

A group of 30 mayors representing towns served by the Raritan Valley line have met with and pressed NJ Transit for resumption of direct, off-peak New York service. The continuing Atlantic City line suspension has been criticized by South Jersey lawmakers, including U.S. Rep Jeff Van Drew. Last week, NJ Transit extended a 25 percent fare discount for Atlantic City Line riders.

The failure of @NJTRANSIT on the AC Rail line is disturbing. I caught up with some people today in the halls of Congress to talk about this failure and how I am going to fight my hardest to get it straightened out. #NewJersey #AtlanticCity #SouthJersey https://t.co/EgooWxbydV — Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@CongressmanJVD) January 30, 2019

Riders of the Princeton Shuttle, affectionately known as the “dinky”, questioned why it was ever shut down because that line didn’t need Positive Train Control since only one train runs at a time.

Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy cited the federal government shutdown for a delay in resuming service on the three rail lines. Last week, officials said those suspended rail lines wouldn’t return until April 1 at the earliest.

“We need FRA approval of a reboot (of the rail service),” Murphy said in January.

Alan chalked up that confusion to public officials who don’t have transit experience.

“The governor is not a transit professional. The commissioner and executive director had no transit management experience before coming here last year,” Alan said. “That is why we need a requirement that senior managers have enough transit experience that they know the answer and do not need to speculate about them.”

NJ Transit officials said they’re playing it safe by making sure they have the trains and crews needed to restore service in place, said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit executive director, last month.

“We work closely with the FRA…until we get confirmation it (the PTC application) doesn’t needs to be tweaked, we don’t want to go to full restoration of service, only to find we may have to make alterations,” Corbett said.

NJ Transit has to reallocate equipment and crews, which also will affect when service can resume.

“FRA is in the process of reviewing NJT’s proposed alternative (PTC) schedule and supporting documentation, and FRA will issue its decision in accordance with the statutory 90-day review period, Flateau said. The original schedule, before the federal shutdown, would have had the FRA making a final decision on March 14.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com . Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry .

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