NJ Transit Issues Statement About Today’s Train Delays

New Jersey Transit issued a statement this afternoon apologizing for the train delays commuters experienced this morning.

Early this morning, NJ Transit officials said Amtrak reported a power interruption in the south tube of the Hudson River tunnels. Amtrak dispatched equipment and personnel to inspect the power and signal systems for signs of damage,. Workers identified a damaged signal wire midway through the tunnel as the cause of the power interruption and made the necessary repairs.

With the south tube out of service for repairs, officials said all NJ Transit and Amtrak trains in both directions were forced to share a single track for service to and from New York Penn Station, resulting in delays of up to 60 minutes on Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains.

To reduce the number of trains operating on the single track, Midtown Direct trains were rerouted to and from Hoboken Terminal, where customers could use their rail tickets and passes at no additional charge to continue their trip via PATH. While rerouting Midtown Direct trains to Hoboken increases the trip time for those customers, representatives from NJ Transit said delays would have been more extensive if the trains attempted to operate to and from New York.

Due to congestion in the Hoboken Terminal caused by the additional trains, all rail service into and out of Hoboken operated with 10-15 minute delays this morning.

To provide customers with alternate travel options, NJ Transit established cross-honoring on PATH trains at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and 33rd Street in New York.

“Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience you experienced this morning,” wrote NJ Transit representatives. “We understand how challenging these types of incidents are for our customers, and we thank you for your patience. If you have additional questions or comments regarding these delays, please contact us.”