Train Travel To New York City

Aces Rolls Out Train to Link New York City and Atlantic City

Atlantic City lovers will now have one more reason to do so. The new Atlantic City Express Train will travel from New York City to Atlantic City, with a stop at Newark. A luxurious ride of two and a half hours and you land in AC. It was a long awaited project as the proposed plan of Atlantic City Express Service got accepted in June 2006 but the timing couldn't have been better given the current economic slowdown. The new trains are being provided by NJ transit and the service will be partially funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. It would be a weekend service running from Friday through Sunday making it a perfect arrangement for a fun filled weekend. As they call it, it's a swift connection to fun.

The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) is a Joint venture of Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The investors believe this service would convince more New Yorkers to explore AC. The Shuttle would be slower than the existing options but would have better amenities. The only options available were to board the buses which leave for AC throughout the day from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or drive in. But these options don't look so attractive now even though the time of journey is lower than ACES. It would definitely be a relief for summer weekends when the traffic is chaotic. The advantage with ACES is not being stuck in traffic and the party mood is triggered as soon as you are onboard.

Not everybody would care but the locomotive is unique too. The train will have a diesel engine on one end and an electric on the other end. It would operate through the Hudson Tunnels with the electric engine to Frankford junction, then across the Delair Bridge switching to diesel power for non-electrified section to Atlantic City. No engine change is what would make it a trip of 2 1/2 hrs. This Double Decker train with two class levels will start operating on Feb. 6 this year and the introductory rate will be $50 each way in coach and $75 per seat for first class. Not so bad. Considering an awkward bus ride from NYC which would come to about $35, a cab to the casino that you are heading towards would be another $15 , yet again when you head back to the hotel to catch the bus; this discomfort sums up to about $ 65 roundtrip. Total 25% of the seats would be slated for sale to the general public; while the rest would be reserved for the casinos having stakes in the service.

It is being classified as one of the joint efforts put in to improve city's image. Gambling revenue was down 7.8 percent this November over last, so this service and many new ventures are on the cards as AC is not willing to lose its potential visitors. Instead of hunkering down, the city is being innovative and offering more convenience as they have not just a slow economy but also increased competition from other gambling destinations in North east. But are visitors willing to drop that much for a trip to Gambling in these harsh circumstances? Experts muse that the landed costs are too high to turn a profit and the service would be able to survive only a year or so. Well may be it is targeted to visitors with a disposable income desiring a trade up experience; who hesitated otherwise because of the odd connectivity to AC. Lets wait and watch.