The Hoboken–World Trade Center service originated as the Exchange Place–Hudson Terminal service operated by the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M). It originally operated only between Exchange Place in Jersey City and the Hudson Terminal in Manhattan beginning on July 19, 1909. It became the Hoboken–Hudson Terminal service on August 2, 1909, after the southern terminus was extended to Hoboken Terminal via Erie station (now Newport station) in Jersey City.[4]
The H&M was succeeded by Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) in 1962.[5] The Hudson Terminal station was replaced by the World Trade Center station in 1971 during construction of the World Trade Center.[6] Additionally, two other stations were rebuilt by PANYNJ. Exchange Place was rebuilt during the 1960s and 1970s, and the former Erie station was rebuilt as Pavonia Avenue.
Weekend Hoboken–World Trade Center service began on October 27, 1996.[7]
Following the destruction of the World Trade Center station in the September 11 attacks, which also required the closing of Exchange Place, the Hoboken–World Trade Center branch was suspended. Instead, a temporary branch using the same color code (green) operated between Hoboken and Journal Square. When Exchange Place reopened on June 29, 2003, the green color code was used for the temporary Hoboken–Exchange Place branch. The Hoboken–World Trade Center branch was restored when the temporary World Trade Center station opened on November 23.[8] On April 9, 2006, weekend service on this branch was discontinued to accommodate long-term construction on the World Trade Center site.[9]
The system, particularly the Hoboken station, suffered severe damage from Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012. The Hoboken station was closed for repairs caused by damage to trainsets, mud, rusted tracks, and destroyed critical electrical equipment after approximately 8 ft (2.4 m) of water submerged the tunnels in and around the station.[10] Damage was also reported at Exchange Place and World Trade Center stations. Due to the lengthy amount of time necessary to repair all of the damage, service on the line was temporarily suspended. On December 19, 2012, Hoboken station was reopened after its repairs were completed.[11] However, service on the line would not resume until January 29, 2013.[12]