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The train is almost at the station, just about ready to bring gamblers and their money to Atlantic City casinos growing increasingly anxious for more dollars.
Atlantic City Express Service, or ACES, begins weekend service between Penn Station in New York City and the Atlantic City Rail Terminal - with a stop at Newark Penn Station - on Feb. 6.
The service, starting about a year behind schedule, will carry passengers in bi-level rail cars outfitted with leather seats, a private lounge and custom-designed food and beverage kiosks. First-class passengers ride on the upper deck, and get food and beverage servers.
Upon arrival in Atlantic City, passengers get complimentary shuttle service to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah's Resort, the three gaming halls involved with the rail service.
Introductory one-way ticket prices for the 2-hour trip are $50 for a coach seat and $75 for a first-class seat.
"After careful planning and collaboration with our partners, we are thrilled to be able to launch this service for New York and New Jersey residents to be able to experience the best of each city through the comfort and convenience of the ACES train," Borgata President Larry Mullin said.
This isn't the first venture for an express train involving Atlantic City: Amtrak's so-called "Gamblers Express" ran for about six years and turned out to be a financial disaster.
Casino and NJ Transit officials are more optimistic about ACES, saying riders will find more to do in Atlantic City than those who took the "Gamblers Express." It also gives the casinos the chance to further tap the New York market and woo younger, free-spending gamblers to a city that's reinventing itself from a low-rolling daytripper town to a more affluent overnight tourist destination.
Casino marketing shows there are many people in New York City and northern New Jersey who for many reasons - including not having a car - have never made it to Atlantic City, said Caesars General Manager Dan Nita. It's hoped that ACES will attract some of those people, along with potential customers from New York who now opt for other vacation destinations, he said.
"The New York market has always been a leading market for Atlantic City and we see the launch of ACES as an opportunity to penetrate that market further," Nita said. "This direct service will make it easier for our current customers to get to Atlantic City and will give new customers yet another reason to visit."
"As Atlantic City continues to evolve into a world-class destination, we believe this service will convince more New Yorkers to get to know our city," Mullin said.
ACES is a joint venture among Borgata, Caesars, Harrah's, NJ Transit and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. It's running on a three-year trial basis.
The three casinos are paying $15 million for eight bi-level cars. The CRDA is providing $4.8 million to lease four diesel locomotives from Amtrak. ACES and the CRDA will jointly provide another $4 million for operating costs.
A management contract with ACES has NJ Transit operating the trains and Amtrak providing the ticketing and reservation system.
The trains are currently being tested and ACES train staff are undergoing customer service training.
Aside from ACES, there is currently no direct rail service between New York City and Atlantic City.
Travelers have to take Amtrak on its Northeast Corridor line between Penn Station and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, where they transfer to NJ Transit's Atlantic City rail line.
NJ Transit runs between Penn Station and Trenton, but is denied access by Amtrak to the portion of the Northeast Corridor line between Trenton and 30th Street Station.
More information about ACES can be found at
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