On February 27, 2025, at Newark Penn Station, NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri announced the launch of several initiatives designed to immediately improve the customer experience.
Apparently, getting in and out of New York is not one of those.
NJ Transit service was suspended in and out of Penn Station in New York on Saturday, the transit agency announced on March 1.
“Due to Amtrak overhead wire issues near Newark Penn Station, NJ Transit rail service is suspended in and out of Penn Station New York,” said a social media post by the transit agency.
“Customers should visit njtransit.com/abc for available alternate service information,” the alert said.
A 15 percent fare increase on July 1, irked commuters but not as much as the thousands of cancelations.
Last year, the agency canceled nearly 3,400 trains between January and August, or about a hundred a week.
That’s seven times as many cancellations as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, which nixed 530 scheduled runs combined.
So far, this year, 224 trains had been canceled before the latest meltdown.
NJ Transit typically blamed Amtrak because its ancient power system had failed. Amtrak blamed NJ Transit because its running 50-year-old trains.
Governor Phil Murphy was elected in 2017, promising to rebuild NJ Transit.
It would cost about $10.5 billion to electrify and upgrade every NJ Transit line serving Penn Station or Hoboken, a project that would take ten to 15 years.
Instead of prioritizing public transit, the state has allocated nearly $10.7 billion to expand a section of the New Jersey Turnpike, which offers minimal capacity gains compared to the transformative potential of modernizing NJ Transit’s rail system.
- Chronic Underfunding: NJ Transit has been starved of necessary funding, with the state failing to invest in essential upgrades and maintenance. This has led to deteriorating infrastructure and unreliable service.
- Fare Freezes and Increases: The administration initially froze fares, which deprived NJ Transit of much-needed revenue, and later reversed course by raising fares without addressing the underlying issues, further burdening commuters.
- Lack of Long-Term Funding Solutions: The state delayed finding sustainable funding for NJ Transit until the system was on the verge of collapse. Even then, the proposed rescue plan relies on the general fund, which is vulnerable to diversion for other purposes.
- Inefficient Prioritization: The state’s focus on highway expansion over rail modernization reflects a misalignment with the needs of commuters and the environment, as rail improvements would significantly reduce commute times and benefit far more people.
These issues leave commuters with unreliable service amid missed opportunities for meaningful improvements.
The NJ Transit rail service into and out of New York Penn Station suspension, which began yesterday, has left thousands of commuters seeking alternative travel arrangements.
NJ Transit has urged passengers to consider alternate, backup, and contingency plans while efforts to restore service are underway.
In a statement, NJ Transit emphasized the importance of preparedness during service disruptions.
“While NJ Transit strives to deliver high-quality service, disruptions can still occur. We encourage passengers to take a moment to consider alternate, backup, and contingency plans for their travels,” the agency said.
Alternate Travel Options by Rail Line
NJ Transit has outlined alternate rail service options for affected passengers.
Customers are advised to check for updates on cross-honoring arrangements, which may allow them to use their existing tickets on alternate services.
However, unless cross-honoring is officially declared, passengers will need the appropriate tickets for the alternate service options.
The following rail lines may serve as alternatives for affected passengers:
- Atlantic City Rail Line
- Main-Bergen County Rail Line (Main Line, Bergen County Line, Port Jervis Line)
- Montclair-Boonton Rail Line
- Morris & Essex Rail Line (Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch)
- Northeast Corridor Rail Line
- North Jersey Coast Rail Line
- Pascack Valley Rail Line
- Raritan Valley Rail Line
NJ Transit recommends that passengers familiarize themselves with additional travel options, including bus services, PATH trains, and private transportation providers, to minimize delays.
The agency also advises commuters to monitor real-time updates via the NJ Transit mobile app, website, or social media channels for the latest information on service restoration and cross-honoring arrangements.
The cause of the disruption at New York Penn Station remains under investigation.
NJ Transit has assured passengers that all available resources are being deployed to resolve the issue and restore normal service as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, commuters are encouraged to plan ahead and remain flexible in their travel arrangements.
For further assistance, passengers can contact NJ Transit customer service or visit their website for detailed travel advisories and updates.