How does the PATH tube train differ from the New York subway in style, technology, fare collection etc.?
Railroad Forums
PATH—attributes
- Discussion relating to the past and present operations of the NYC Subway, PATH, and Staten Island Railway (SIRT).
Moderator: GirlOnTheTrain
Both are urban railways, receiving their electric power from a third rail , operating on their own reserved rights of way partially underground and partially on or above the surface. PATH /Hudson Tubes runs between two states, NJ and NY, and is operated through a bi-state agency, Port of New York New Jersey Authority; the NYC subway operates only inside New York City in New York State. For more information go to http://hudsoncity.net/tubes/gatewaytubepage.html and click on Go To Hudson Tubes.
How is it different in style, technology, fare collection, et cetera...?
Similarities: The Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (PATH's predecessor) was built to the same standards as the IRT—same car lengths and widths as well as same third-rail system. Hoboken Terminal is the only station that identifies the PATH system as a "subway" (the old DL&W-era sign still reads "R.R. TRAINS AND SUBWAY")
Differences:
Similarities: The Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (PATH's predecessor) was built to the same standards as the IRT—same car lengths and widths as well as same third-rail system. Hoboken Terminal is the only station that identifies the PATH system as a "subway" (the old DL&W-era sign still reads "R.R. TRAINS AND SUBWAY")
Differences:
- The PATH system is all tubes and tunnels whereas the NYC system is mostly cut-and-cover
- Currently, the PATH cars are wider than the IRT cars and conceivably would not be able to operate on the underground IRT system (but IRT cars can run on the PATH system without width issues)
- PATH rolling stock adheres to FRA specifications (it's still connected to the general railway network) whereas NYC Subway falls under the FTA (no connections—closed system; only difference is the Staten Island Railway, which is like the PATH insofar as being FRA-governed)
- Some PATH turnstiles still accept cash fares, as well as the Quickcard and MTA Metrocard
- Conductor rides in first and second cars; NYCTA conductor rides in middle of train
- Only subway-era railroad of its kind to cross the Hudson River into New Jersey (connected all the old waterfront terminals to New York except for two, the CNJ Terminal in Jersey City and the West Shore Terminal in Weehawken)
Didn't the Lehigh Valley also have a terminal near the CNJ? I know that there was a planned spur down to that area, as with the one to Hoboken.
Originally there had been plans for the Hudson & Manhattan [Tubes] to have spurs to the CNJ Terminal on Johnston Avenue and to the West Shore RR in Weehawken but they never got beyond the talking stage.
Plans for a third river crossing, from Hudson Terminal directly to the Erie at Pavonia Avenue, were also not carried out but there was some actual construction for that tunnel at Hudson Terminal.
See http://www.hudsoncity.net/tubesenglish/index.html
1. Construction History
There
Plans for a third river crossing, from Hudson Terminal directly to the Erie at Pavonia Avenue, were also not carried out but there was some actual construction for that tunnel at Hudson Terminal.
See http://www.hudsoncity.net/tubesenglish/index.html
1. Construction History
There
SPUI wrote:Didn't the Lehigh Valley also have a terminal near the CNJ? I know that there was a planned spur down to that area, as with the one to Hoboken.