NJ Transit to and from NYC suspended again, Amtrak cancels some trains on Friday

NEW YORK — NJ Transit was again suspended on Friday to and from New York Penn Station due to problems with Amtrak’s overhead wires, the railroad said.

Rail traffic resumed shortly before 10:30 a.m. with delays of up to 45 minutes and a diversion of some trains to Hoboken.

Although NJ Transit’s website said train service was suspended, a video from Chopper 2 shows trains moving slowly. A customer service representative at Secaucus Junction also told passengers that despite the overhead wire problems, trains would continue to run to New York and that delays were to be expected.

Amtrak said its service between New York City and Philadelphia had also experienced delays or changes because a commuter train had broken down at Penn Station.

A statement from Amtrak said: “Trains traveling to and from (New York Penn Station) may experience delays of 60 minutes this morning. In addition, Empire Service between New York and Yonkers is temporarily suspended. Crews are working to remove a stranded commuter train and repair associated infrastructure. We are working with our partners at (NJ Transit) to investigate the cause of this morning’s disruption.”

The problems began less than 24 hours after a bushfire and problems with the overhead line NJ Transit and Amtrak services suspended for hours during evening traffic on Thursday.

Amtrak had already canceled some Acela and Northeast Regional trains Friday morning after delays continued well into the night, but NJ Transit appeared to be running on schedule before service was suspended again.

NJ Transit has not announced when normal service will resume. In the meantime, PATH rail tickets and passes will be mutually accepted at Newark Penn Station.

Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers stuck for hours

Traffic officials made a combination of a bush fire in Secaucus, New Jersey and overhead line problems caused the closure in and around New York City during the evening rush hour on Thursday.

Amtrak trains along the Northeast Corridor have been suspended from Philadelphia to New Haven, Connecticut.

Passengers complained about a lack of communication and updates and said they had to desperately search for alternative routes home.

“I believe that this problem needs to be addressed. Apparently something is happening at the company level,” said Marisa Roitman.

“It’s quite frustrating and I think quite dangerous with all the crowds. We’re all gathering in such large crowds and trying to get through the alleys and stairwells to find another mode of transportation,” said David Freeman.

Not the first time in 2024

It was the second time this week that trains were cancelled. Overhead lines and a stranded train left commuters stranded for hours on Tuesday.

In May, a power outage caused by overhead wires falling onto the tracks, Amtrak and NJ Transit were brought to a standstill for hours at the beginning of rush hour. Governor Phil Murphy called it “a catastrophe of absolute proportions” from Amtrak.

In the meantime, NJ Transit fares are set to increase on 1st of July.