Delays at Penn Station Continue Amid Downed Wires, Disruptions Across NJ Transit Network
commuters heading into Manhattan's Penn Station faced a morning of frustration as NJ Transit and Amtrak services were severely impacted by downed wires on multiple lines. The issues began around 7 am, when an Amtrak train came into contact with the wires near Newark, causing a power outage that disabled the train and forcing passengers onto alternative routes.
As if that weren't enough, just hours later another NJ Transit train lost power due to part of the overhead equipment coming down, leaving approximately 300 customers stranded. The second incident occurred around 9 am, prompting riders to be escorted to buses.
While no one was injured in either incident, the disruption to services has been significant, with residual delays persisting until mid-morning. Raritan Valley Line trains were diverted to Newark Penn Station, and NJ Transit rail tickets were being cross-honored by PATH at various locations.
The incidents have sparked concern among commuters, who are already facing extremely cold weather. In a message to customers, NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri acknowledged the disruptions, stating that "some impacts" would continue into the afternoon and evening peak periods. He also apologized for the inconvenience, citing the need for "full service as quickly as possible."
Governor Mikie Sherrill has weighed in on the situation, expressing her frustration at the delays and pledging to fight for improved regional rail services through the Gateway Tunnel project.
As both NJ Transit and Amtrak work to restore full services, commuters are advised to check their websites or social media accounts for updates. The disruptions have highlighted ongoing issues with the aging rail infrastructure in the region, with some incidents attributed to poor weather conditions.
commuters heading into Manhattan's Penn Station faced a morning of frustration as NJ Transit and Amtrak services were severely impacted by downed wires on multiple lines. The issues began around 7 am, when an Amtrak train came into contact with the wires near Newark, causing a power outage that disabled the train and forcing passengers onto alternative routes.
As if that weren't enough, just hours later another NJ Transit train lost power due to part of the overhead equipment coming down, leaving approximately 300 customers stranded. The second incident occurred around 9 am, prompting riders to be escorted to buses.
While no one was injured in either incident, the disruption to services has been significant, with residual delays persisting until mid-morning. Raritan Valley Line trains were diverted to Newark Penn Station, and NJ Transit rail tickets were being cross-honored by PATH at various locations.
The incidents have sparked concern among commuters, who are already facing extremely cold weather. In a message to customers, NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri acknowledged the disruptions, stating that "some impacts" would continue into the afternoon and evening peak periods. He also apologized for the inconvenience, citing the need for "full service as quickly as possible."
Governor Mikie Sherrill has weighed in on the situation, expressing her frustration at the delays and pledging to fight for improved regional rail services through the Gateway Tunnel project.
As both NJ Transit and Amtrak work to restore full services, commuters are advised to check their websites or social media accounts for updates. The disruptions have highlighted ongoing issues with the aging rail infrastructure in the region, with some incidents attributed to poor weather conditions.
it's like, every time I think NJ Transit is getting its act together they hit another snag 
and now we're talkin' 'bout delays across the entire network 
, it's just gettin' ridiculous 
. Can't even get a morning commute done without some major disruption 
! Like, you're trying to start your day and all you want is to get to work or school on time, but nope, there's a power outage at Penn Station and it's causing a whole mess. 
I feel bad for the 300 passengers who got stuck, though - that's just terrible 
. And to make matters worse, it's freezing outside 
. Can't we just get some reliable transportation around here?!? I'm glad Governor Sherrill is speaking up about this, though - it's time for us to upgrade our rail infrastructure 
. Maybe these incidents will finally motivate them to get things done 
.
. I'd love to see NJ Transit and Amtrak prioritize addressing these issues, especially considering the aging state of our rail network 
.
Am I missing something or is it just me who thinks this is basically a fun game of 'spot the problem' for NJ Transit and Amtrak? Like, seriously though, 300 people stranded because of a power outage... that's no joke. And to top it off, Governor Sherrill gets all up in arms about it 
. I'm just glad no one got hurt, though - safety first, right? 
. Can't even get a decent cup of coffee at the station because they're all backed up #CoffeeLoverProbs. Anyway, gotta get moving... hope my day gets better than this one 
. And what really gets my goat is that these issues keep popping up due to aging infrastructure 
. I mean, shouldn't we be investing in some modern tech by now? It's not like it's rocket science (although, if someone could figure out how to fix our rail system, that'd be awesome 
). Anyway, hope NJ Transit and Amtrak can get everything back on track soon...literally 
. 300 people stranded because of a wire issue? That's just crazy! 
The cold weather is bad enough, but to have to deal with this on top of it all? Brrr 
. And what's with the "some impacts" comment from Kris Kolluri? Can't he just give us straight answers for once? 
The Gateway Tunnel project's a good start, but we need real solutions here 
Just kidding, sorta. Seriously though, can we please get some reliable public transportation in this state already?! 
. I mean, is it too much to ask for reliable train services? The cold weather isn't helping either, just makes everything worse 
. At least Governor Sherrill is speaking up about it, maybe some changes will be made soon 
. Fingers crossed for a smoother commute later 
this is getting old... downed wires at penn station again... NJ transit needs to sort out its act. 300 people stuck on trains all day? not cool. 
. And Governor Sherrill is on top of it, I love how she's advocating for the Gateway Tunnel project to improve rail services 
! Can't even get into Penn Station without dealing with downed wires and delays 
. And poor Kris Kolluri trying to apologize for the inconvenience... gotta keep it real, dude 
. Meanwhile, Gov Sherrill's all like "we're gonna fix this"... fingers crossed 
Anyone else having to deal with these delays? 
.