NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Commuters are urged to check the status of their trains before they leave, after NJ Transit announced a few changes following Monday’s commuter chaos.
So far Tuesday, due to Amtrak overhead wire issues, North Jersey Coast and Northeast Corridor Line rail service will be bypassing Newark Airport, North Elizabeth, and Elizabeth Stations. Customers are advised to travel westbound to Rahway and transfer to an eastbound train stopping at these stations.
Otherwise, other trains are told to expect a normal weekday commute.
However, it was a different story on Monday. It turned out to be long and frustrating day.
Overhead wire issues caused a disabled train, then disrupted travel and caused delays and cancellations for the entire day.
New Jersey Transit and Amtrak shut down service between Newark and New York Penn Station after a downed wire brought the system to a halt around 7 a.m. Monday.
Then around 9 a.m., a train carrying passengers stopped in its tracks and a rescue train had some issues getting those stranded back to Penn Station Newark, which created a domino effect.
Authorities say during this event, a piece of debris from the overhead wires struck the windshield of the train, resulting in minor injuries to the engineer.
The engineer was taken to a local hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported to the 300 customers on board.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., officials announced rail service had resumed on the Northeast Corridor Line between Penn Station New York and Trenton.
But just after 4:30 p.m., officials said NJ Transit would operate limited service for the remainder of the day due to overhead wire issues in the morning.
Trains were still operating on a reduced service for the evening commute.
Commuters were left scrambling trying to figure out a way to work or back.
“It’s just like, no point coming to the office. Like I could have done more from home,” a commuter said.
“I think they do their best. And it’s just the way that infrastructure is set up. What are you going to do?” another person said.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a statement, saying these issues are another reason why she is fighting to get funding restored for the Gateway Tunnel.
Despite a judge’s order to resume funding by this coming Thursday, the project is on hold.
The Gateway commission says it will not reopen the project until it gets its funding.
Customers can visit njtransit.com/abc for available alternate service information.
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