NJ Transit’s “One Seat Ride” Program, which will provide direct access from Roselle Park to Manhattan and alleviate commuters on the Raritan Valley Line from having to switch trains at Newark Penn Station in order to get to New York City, will start on Monday, March 3, 2014. The program is a test phase and the first step of what has been discussed as an ultimate goal to have a one-seat ride for all trains from Roselle Park to Manhattan, although there are numerous logistics that need to be addressed – including track and tunnel availability – in order for that to occur.
Currently five (5) trains leaving from Roselle Park, between 9:29 a.m. and 1:33 p.m. on weekdays only, will not end in Newark but simply stop and continue into New York City. Likewise, five (5) return trains from Manhattan will have Newark as its first – not last – stop before arriving in Roselle Park two stops later between the hours of 10:44 a.m. and 2:49 p.m. Monday through Friday only. These trains will not be stopping at Secaucus Junction.
Instead of switching trains, commuters will wait on the same train while the dual-powered locomotives switch between diesel and electric in order to continue onto and return from NYC.
Although no timetable has been given for this phase, NJ Transit has stated that the success of the program will be gauged on ridership and input from commuters. NJ Transit spokesman William Smith stated, “We’re getting the information out there and we encourage the people to try the service.”
Below is a chart timetable with more specific information for Roselle Park and a copy of the full train schedule.
| Roselle Park Station | Union Station | Newark Penn Station | New York Penn Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:29 a.m. | 9:33 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | 10:09 a.m. |
| 10:31 a.m. | 10:35 a.m. | 10:44 a.m. | 11:10 a.m. |
| 11:34 a.m. | 11:38 a.m. | 11:50 a.m. | 12:12 p.m. |
| 12:34 p.m. | 12:38 p.m. | 12:47 p.m. | 1:12 p.m. |
| 1:33 p.m. | 1:38 p.m. | 1:49 p.m. | 2:13 p.m. |
| New York Penn Station | Newark Penn Station | Union Station | Roselle Park Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:44 a.m. | 11:06 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | 11:18 a.m. |
| 11:49 a.m. | 12:08 p.m. | 12:17 p.m. | 12:20 p.m. |
| 12:49 p.m. | 1:08 p.m. | 1:17 p.m. | 1:20 p.m. |
| 1:47 p.m. | 2:06 p.m. | 2:15 p.m. | 2:18 p.m. |
| 2:39 p.m. | 3:01 p.m. | 3:10 p.m. | 3:13 p.m. |