NEWBURGH, NY
As the rail market continues to change and evolve, Norfolk Southern continues to come up with interesting things to do. Prior to being put out of service in 1983 in real life, their route the Northern Tier Line, hosted passenger service handled by Metro North and New Jersey Transit. That service was shifted to NS’ Southern Tier shortly thereafter. However, in 2017, as Orange County continues to grow and expand, passenger service is almost a necessity in these areas. As such, Norfolk Southern has reached an agreement with New Jersey Transit, Metro North, and Amtrak to provide service on its Northern Tier Line and Moodna Secondary to Middletown, and to Newburgh.
To be able to do this service, NJT, AMTK, MNCR, and NS will share pool equipment, meaning any one of them can have equipment on the trains at any given time. Norfolk Southern said a test run of the service will commence this week, and that full service is pending the results of the test, but if successful, will implement the service by December. The railroads are working together to make a reasonable schedule, and work around Norfolk Southern’s needs. The service will not disrupt freight traffic or hold trains up in anyway. Norfolk Southern will dispatch the movements and be in charge of the scheduling.