New Jersey’s gambling mecca will soon be more easily accessible by rail — just not if you live in New Jersey.
Express train service from New York to Atlantic City, scheduled to begin in late 2007 or early 2008, has no planned stops in the Garden State.
Details are being finalized for the new service, dubbed “ACES” for Atlantic City Express Service. But in the current scenario, the trains would run non-stop on the Northeast Corridor tracks from New York to just north of Philadelphia, then head east and continue non-stop to Atlantic City.
“Our initial thoughts are to go directly from Penn Station with no stops to Atlantic City,” said Michael Walsh, regional vice president for development at Harrah’s Atlantic City. “As things develop we may stop at other places.”
Auggie Cipollini, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, said it’s still possible there will be a stop in New Jersey.
“We’re still open to it,” Cipollini said. “It’s something we’re going to have to partner with NJ Transit to see whether or not that’s feasible.”
The casinos are calling the shots because they are footing the bill for the new train service. A joint venture involving the Borgata, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel Casino and Harrah’s Atlantic City is purchasing eight double-level cars for approximately $15 million, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority will lease four locomotives for another $4.5 million.
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Courtesy of grouptravelblog.com
