Delays at NY Penn Station Continue Amid Downed Wires
Riders on NJ Transit and Amtrak faced lengthy delays Monday morning, with many services suspended due to downed overhead wires near Newark. The issues began just after 7 a.m., when an NJ Transit train became disabled and forced riders onto alternative service.
According to Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of NJ Transit, the problem was caused by fallen Amtrak overhead wires on the Northeast Corridor Line, which strangled power lines in front of the stranded train. "We know you depend on us, and experiences like this fall short of the service you deserve," he said in a statement to customers.
As riders were escorted to buses, another NJ Transit train lost power around 9 a.m., with approximately 300 passengers affected. Despite efforts by both agencies, full service remained suspended throughout the morning rush hour.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed frustration at the disruptions, blaming cold weather for exacerbating the issue. "These delays are unacceptable," she wrote on X, referencing ongoing disputes over a $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project aimed at improving regional rail services.
Amtrak riders also faced significant delays, with trains between Philadelphia and New York hindered by downed wires. A spokesperson claimed that service was delayed by up to 60 minutes, although some trains had resumed movement after the initial disruptions.
As commuters returned to work or school, they were left dealing with residual delays into the afternoon and evening peak periods. In a bid to alleviate inconvenience, NJ Transit offered cross-honored rail tickets through PATH services at Newark, Hoboken, and 33rd Street.
For those seeking updates on service, officials recommend checking the agencies' websites or social media accounts for real-time information.
Riders on NJ Transit and Amtrak faced lengthy delays Monday morning, with many services suspended due to downed overhead wires near Newark. The issues began just after 7 a.m., when an NJ Transit train became disabled and forced riders onto alternative service.
According to Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of NJ Transit, the problem was caused by fallen Amtrak overhead wires on the Northeast Corridor Line, which strangled power lines in front of the stranded train. "We know you depend on us, and experiences like this fall short of the service you deserve," he said in a statement to customers.
As riders were escorted to buses, another NJ Transit train lost power around 9 a.m., with approximately 300 passengers affected. Despite efforts by both agencies, full service remained suspended throughout the morning rush hour.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed frustration at the disruptions, blaming cold weather for exacerbating the issue. "These delays are unacceptable," she wrote on X, referencing ongoing disputes over a $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project aimed at improving regional rail services.
Amtrak riders also faced significant delays, with trains between Philadelphia and New York hindered by downed wires. A spokesperson claimed that service was delayed by up to 60 minutes, although some trains had resumed movement after the initial disruptions.
As commuters returned to work or school, they were left dealing with residual delays into the afternoon and evening peak periods. In a bid to alleviate inconvenience, NJ Transit offered cross-honored rail tickets through PATH services at Newark, Hoboken, and 33rd Street.
For those seeking updates on service, officials recommend checking the agencies' websites or social media accounts for real-time information.
- delays like this are a nightmare for commuters! I mean think about it, you're relying on public transportation to get to work or school and then suddenly your train gets stranded because of something outside your control. It's like the whole system just comes crashing down 
.
. Cold weather might be exacerbating the problem, but it's still just a cop-out to blame something as unpredictable as nature.
. At least they're offering some kind of compensation, but it's not like a free pass or anything.
. We deserve better than that! 
Delays at NY Penn Station are getting old, and it's not just the commuters who are feeling the strain... the infrastructure itself is struggling to keep up. I'm all for some good old-fashioned maintenance, but this feels like a case of 'be careful what you wish for'. 
At least they're trying to help out with cross-honored tickets, that's a good start! 
NJ Transit and Amtrak are getting torched 
by downed wires on the Northeast Corridor Line... 300+ passengers stuck, delays of up to 60 minutes... yeah, because cold weather wasn't bad enough already 
. Can we just get some reliable trains for once? 
I swear, these commuters are losing their minds 
Cold weather doesn't excuse the problems,IMO 
NJ Transit and Amtrak need to step it up and get these delays sorted out ASAP! 
️
The Gateway Tunnel project is super important, but can't they find a way to make the trains run smoothly while working on it?!? 
Frustrated commuters are the worst 
on me! Like, can't they just get their wires sorted out for once? 
Amtrak overhead wires down, NJ Transit trains getting stranded... it's like a scene from a bad sitcom, not real life 
.
. I mean, I know it's cold outside, but come on! That's just an excuse, you know? 
The Gateway Tunnel project is already a mess, now we're gonna have to deal with these constant delays and disruptions? It's like Groundhog Day over here 
.
NJ transit and amtrak are literally killing me rn 
at least they're being honest about the cause tho, fallen wires are no joke 
️ ugh i hate when cold weather affects everything 
. Like, come on, we know there's more to it than that! And what's up with these agencies not communicating better? I mean, if they had some sort of alert system in place, this wouldn't be such a big deal 
. Anyway, at least NJ Transit is offering cross-honored rail tickets, so that's a little something 
. But seriously, can we just get to the bottom of this and fix the issue already?!