South Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area
The South Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area is a critical logistics hub designed to facilitate the movement of freight across the region. Recognizing a surge in freight activity as early as 2010, the New Jersey Department of Transportation initiated various capital improvement and expansion projects to ensure the infrastructure could meet growing industrial demands.
Operations for this area are centralized at the Pavonia Yard in Camden, New Jersey. To maintain efficiency across the network, the system utilizes several smaller satellite yards located in Marcus Hook, Paulsboro, Millville, Morrisville, Frankford Junction, Burlington, Port Richmond, and South Philadelphia.
Key Facts
- Central Hub: Pavonia Yard in Camden, NJ, serves as the primary operational center.
- Strategic Growth: Expansion projects were driven by NJDOT projections of increased freight activity starting in 2010.
- Interoperability: The area utilizes trackage rights—agreements allowing one railroad to operate over another's tracks—across Amtrak and New Jersey Transit lines.
- Critical Crossing: The Delair Lift Bridge serves as a vital link, with tracks split between Conrail and the Atlantic City Line.
Primary Rail Lines and Trackage Rights
The Shared Assets Area relies on a complex network of secondaries and industrial tracks to connect industrial centers with major corridors.
Major Corridor Access
The network integrates with national and regional lines through specific trackage rights. This includes the Northeast Corridor, where rights extend from the Northern New Jersey operations border at Princeton Junction to Philadelphia. Additionally, the Atlantic City Line provides access from the Bordentown Secondary at Delair to Winslow Junction.
The Delair Branch connects the Pavonia Running tracks at CP Hatch in Delair, New Jersey, to the CSX Philadelphia Subdivision at Park Junction in Philadelphia.
Secondary Lines and Industrial Tracks
Several secondary lines serve as the backbone for local freight distribution:
- Bordentown Secondary: Encompasses the Amboy and Bordentown Branches, running from CP Hatch to the Northeast Corridor at Millham in Trenton.
- Vineland Secondary: Extends from the south end of Pavonia Yard (CP Mill) in Camden to Millville.
- Penns Grove Secondary: Connects the Salem and Vineland Secondaries at Woodbury to the Deepwater Point Running Track at Penns Grove.
- Chester Secondary: Runs from the CSX RG yard at Eastwick to SEPTA's Airport Line and Lester, terminating at Eddystone.
Specialized industrial tracks provide last-mile delivery to businesses, such as the Robbinsville Industrial Track (Bordentown to Yardville), the Pemberton Industrial Track (Pennsauken to Hainesport), and the Grenloch Industrial Track, which serves the Interstate Business Park in Bellmawr.
Specialized Operations and Leases
Certain sections of the network are managed through lease agreements or shared usage. The Salem Running Track, which connects Woodbury to the Southern Railroad of New Jersey's Salem Branch, was leased to the SRNJ in 2018.
The Beesley's Point Secondary runs from Camden to Palermo. As of 2022, primary trackage rights from Winslow to Palermo have been leased to the Cape May Seashore Lines. However, Conrail maintains secondary rights, contingent upon the future of the shuttered B.L. England Generating Station site. This line further extends via the Beesley's Point Industrial Track to Beesley's Point.
The Deepwater Point Running Track provides a final link from the Penns Grove Secondary to Deepwater.
Infrastructure Summary
| Line/Asset | Key Connection Points | Primary Purpose/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pavonia Yard | Camden, NJ | Main Operational Hub |
| Delair Bridge | Delair, NJ to Philadelphia, PA | Shared by Conrail and NJ Transit |
| Northeast Corridor | Princeton Junction to Philadelphia | Amtrak Trackage Rights |
| Vineland Secondary | Camden to Millville | Regional Freight Distribution |
| Salem Running Track | Woodbury to Swedesboro | Leased to SRNJ (2018) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the South Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area operated from?
The area is operated out of the Pavonia Yard located in Camden, New Jersey, supported by several smaller yards across the region.
How is the Delair Lift Bridge utilized?
The bridge is shared between two entities: the south track is used by Conrail, while the north track is used by New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line.
What is the status of the Beesley's Point Secondary?
Primary trackage rights from Winslow to Palermo were leased to the Cape May Seashore Lines in 2022, though Conrail retains secondary rights related to the B.L. England Generating Station site.
Which major corridors provide trackage rights for this area?
The area utilizes trackage rights along the Amtrak Northeast Corridor (from Princeton Junction to Philadelphia) and New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line (from Delair to Winslow Junction).
Which industrial track serves the Interstate Business Park in Bellmawr?
The Grenloch Industrial Track, which branches off the Vineland Secondary in Gloucester City, serves the Interstate Business Park.