| Atlantic City lovers will now have one more reason | | | | operate through the Hudson Tunnels with the electric |
| to do so. The new Atlantic City Express Train will | | | | engine to Frankford junction, then across the Delair |
| travel from New York City to Atlantic City, with a | | | | Bridge switching to diesel power for non-electrified |
| stop at Newark. A luxurious ride of two and a half | | | | section to Atlantic City. No engine change is what |
| hours and you land in AC. It was a long awaited | | | | would make it a trip of 2 1/2 hrs. This Double Decker |
| project as the proposed plan of Atlantic City Express | | | | train with two class levels will start operating on Feb. |
| Service got accepted in June 2006 but the timing | | | | 6 this year and the introductory rate will be $50 each |
| couldn’t have been better given the current | | | | way in coach and $75 per seat for first class. Not so |
| economic slowdown. The new trains are being | | | | bad. Considering an awkward bus ride from NYC |
| provided by NJ transit and the service will be partially | | | | which would come to about $35, a cab to the casino |
| funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development | | | | that you are heading towards would be another $15 , |
| Authority. It would be a weekend service running | | | | yet again when you head back to the hotel to catch |
| from Friday through Sunday making it a perfect | | | | the bus; this discomfort sums up to about $ 65 |
| arrangement for a fun filled weekend. As they call it, | | | | roundtrip. Total 25% of the seats would be slated |
| it’s a swift connection to fun. | | | | for sale to the general public; while the rest would be |
| The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) is a Joint | | | | reserved for the casinos having stakes in the service. |
| venture of Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort | | | | It is being classified as one of the joint efforts put in |
| Atlantic City, and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The | | | | to improve city’s image. Gambling revenue was |
| investors believe this service would convince more | | | | down 7.8 percent this November over last, so this |
| New Yorkers to explore AC. The Shuttle would be | | | | service and many new ventures are on the cards as |
| slower than the existing options but would have | | | | AC is not willing to lose its potential visitors. Instead |
| better amenities. The only options available were to | | | | of hunkering down, the city is being innovative and |
| board the buses which leave for AC throughout the | | | | offering more convenience as they have not just a |
| day from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or drive in. | | | | slow economy but also increased competition from |
| But these options don’t look so attractive now | | | | other gambling destinations in North east. But are |
| even though the time of journey is lower than ACES. | | | | visitors willing to drop that much for a trip to |
| It would definitely be a relief for summer weekends | | | | Gambling in these harsh circumstances? Experts muse |
| when the traffic is chaotic. The advantage with | | | | that the landed costs are too high to turn a profit |
| ACES is not being stuck in traffic and the party | | | | and the service would be able to survive only a year |
| mood is triggered as soon as you are onboard. | | | | or so. Well may be it is targeted to visitors with a |
| Not everybody would care but the locomotive is | | | | disposable income desiring a trade up experience; |
| unique too. The train will have a diesel engine on one | | | | who hesitated otherwise because of the odd |
| end and an electric on the other end. It would | | | | connectivity to AC. Lets wait and watch. |