Only in America: Diesel Tram in Camden, New Jersey (River Line)

The River Line (stylized as River LINE) is a diesel tram-train Interurban light rail system in southern New Jersey, United States, that connects the cities of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey's capital. It is operated for New Jersey Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group (SNJRG), which originally included Bechtel Group and Bombardier. Now that the project is in its operational phase, Bombardier is the only member of SNJRG. The River Line is so named because the path between those two cities runs more or less parallel to the Delaware River.

The River Line stops at the PATCO Speedline's Broadway station (Walter Rand Transportation Center) and the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line's Pennsauken Transit Center, allowing passengers to transfer to and from these connections to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ~Wikipedia
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[timosha]

More Crazy American Transport: This passenger train thinks its a tram and stops at red traffic lights in this city!

[jsea]

The River Line is more of a tram train than an ordinary streetcar

[scottyerkes]

Unique light rail line using diesel power.
Nice scenery along the Delaware Rivet.
This follows a former commuter rail line.
I've ridden the River Line many times and enjoyed the ride.
Thanks Tim for sharing. 😀♥️♥️

[marutherailways]

From 1958 to 1967, diesel streetcars ran in Sapporo, Japan, but due to electrification of an unelectrified line, those cars were remodeled to electric streetcars except for a couple of them and an unremodeled car has been exhibited at Sapporo City Transportation Museum (temporarily closed for renovation).

[scottyerkes]

Unique system. Great scenery along the Delaware River. Follows a former commuter rail line. I've enjoyed my trips on the River Line.
Nice video Tim.👍👍👌👌

[Ciana]

I see these more as modern diesel interurbans or tram trains.

[dannyboy]

Tim I’ve been on this train many times in the past and I will tell you it’s quite a ride and it’s quite the alternative from having to go on SEPTA through the northeast side of Philadelphia up to the Trenton and I’m in NJ the whole time. Though there are certain parts of Camden that are not nice though I’ll just say that much.

[sgtdebones]

These are customized Stadler GTWs for those who didn't know. Designed to traverse like a streetcar and operates like a regular GTW on a mainline for it's railroading segment, which is also why it has a Graham White e-bell for a gong. It's literally you're normal American light rail vehicle but with diesel and no electrical catenary power

[transitcaptain]

I like the Riverline, it helps serve communities and I am interested in it enough to keep a good eye on it

[MrEricSir]

The distinct sound of AC traction motors is a dead giveaway that these are diesel-electric hybrids.

[CFH]

I love these light rails. I just wish they weren't so loud in the interior. This is the longest light rail line in the Garden state, followed by our Light rail system here in Jersey City and the light rail in Newark is the shortest.

[richardmarshall]

The BART system in the San Francisco Bay Area has an extension of almost 10 miles that uses diesel light rail trains. Extension starts at transfer staton about a quarter mile past the Pittsburg Baypoint BART station. Regular 10 car BART trains leave the PIttsburg Baypoint station and travel the short distance to the transfer station. There they change tracks and align on a platform that accommodates the entire train. On the other side of the platform will be the diesel light rail train. It may consist of either one or two unit cars. Only way to get to this transfer station is via train. The diesel trains then service two stations, Pittsburg Central at Railroad and Antioch at Hillcrest. Travel time on the diesel route is only 10 minutes. Each of the diesel trains has Diesel engines located in the center section. Passenger can walk the length of the unit but the center section with the diesel unit has two sets of closing doors that help isolate the noise from the engines. The route runs in the medium of Highway 4 on rails anchored onto slabs of concrete. Originally this extension was planned to use the regular BART trains. It was found, however, that cost was cut in half by using the smaller diesel trains.

[pantografchannel]

Wonderful video my friend, I love all the shots you shown us in it😉 To be honest, I never ever seen diesel "trams", but I really enjoyed the ride, seen around 4:00😉 Well done and cheers to US🙋‍♂

[Vinylfanboy]

There's also the NCTD Sprinter, which is a hybrid rail, but it's close enough.

[mattbosley]

Interesting how the diesel engine is in the middle with a walkway through it between the two tram cars. Looks like it can be driven from both ends so it doesn't have to be turned around. I saw this briefly in another video from someone who was traveling by train and transferred in NJ at the station where the River Line ends, but it's nice to get more information.

[Wfahrer]

Here in Germany we have Diesel tram trains in several cities too. Look Siemens Combino Duo or the "Zwickauer Modell", for example.

[Fenix-MU]

That’s actually a pretty common thing in my country, a lot of cities adopted this kind of system, the only difference is that they’re high floor

[hirampriggott]

It's a fascinating train because it is both a street runner and it shares tracks with freight trains. I've never ridden it even though I ride NJ Transit all the time.

[Sven_Okas]

That also has something to see the GTW ́s as a tram. For me in Berlin, they run as RE line 6 between Berlin and Wittenberge as Prignitz Express. Now a question about the tracks: are they actually welded?? That gets when driving over as if they are just lyinglled. Greetings from Berlin/ Germany. Sven

[sxflyer]

Nordhausen in Germany has a diesel tram too! (line 10, while the other two lines are electric)