NJ Transit to add quiet cars on Atlantic City line

New Jersey Transit is adding "quiet" commuter cars to its Atlantic City Rail Line between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, N.J., on weekdays starting Jan. 20.

Quiet cars are intended to provide a "subdued environment" for commuters who prefer to ride without hearing people talking on cell phones or using other noisy electronic devices. Quiet car rules include speaking in hushed voices and keeping headphones tuned to a volume that other riders cannot hear.

Quiet cars will be available on the line between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.

"We heard from our Atlantic City Rail Line customers that they want to enjoy the benefits of quiet cars on trains, and we are taking action based directly on their recommendations," said NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique Hakim in a press release.

NJ Transit will evaluate the quiet-car program on the line, with feedback received from customers and employees guiding possible changes, she said.

The agency launched the peak period "Quiet Commute" program in September 2010 as a pilot on its Northeast Corridor express trains. After receiving "overwhelmingly positive feedback" about the program from riders, the program was expanded in January 2011 to include all peak-period, peak-direction trains that begin or end their trips at New York Penn Station or Newark Penn Station, NJ Transit officials said.

In June 2011, the agency completed a systemwide rollout to peak-period trains with the expansion of Quiet Commute to include all rail lines that serve Hoboken Terminal. The program was expanded in May 2014 to include all off-peak trains serving Hoboken Terminal.