NJ Transit commuters face delays again Monday after Friday's fire in Hudson River Tunnel
Monday brought another challenging morning commute for NJ Transit riders.
It was a result of Friday's fire in one of the Hudson River tunnels. A train car fire left five people injured and damaged overhead wires and other infrastructure, officials said.
Repairs were still being made Monday morning, which meant 30-minute NJ Transit delays in and out of New York City's Penn Station. Delays had initially been up to 60 minutes.
Midtown Direct service was diverted to Hoboken. NJ Transit rail tickets were being cross honored by buses and at PATH stations at Hoboken, Newark Penn Station, and 33rd Street in New York City.
Amtrak said later Monday the south tunnel was back up and running, but delays lingered at Newark's Penn Station.
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Fire caused "significant damage"
The train car fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. Friday on an Amtrak work train. More than 140 emergency responders were brought in to help resolve the incident.
An Amtrak official said the fire caused "significant damage."
Commuters said getting out of Newark's Penn Station was difficult.
"I'm here a little early, not as stressed as I would be if I was running late," one commuter said.
"I've been seeing delays and cancellations," said another.
"I looked on my app and saw that all the trains in Madison, they're being diverted to Hoboken and, you know, I need to get to the city I am like, I have to take Uber to Penn Station," Madison, New Jersey resident Caleb Stone added.
An "unacceptable situation"
In the wake of the fire, various officials took aim at Amtrak, calling it an "unacceptable situation."
"This is the third time in a row in a matter of a couple of weeks that we have knocked out Penn Station," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said Friday.
With all the high-profile events taking place in and around New York City this summer, including the World Cup and NBA Finals, "this cannot keep going on," he added.
"Riders deserve better than a summer of delays and excuses," Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on social media.
"Our infrastructure is safe," an Amtrak official said after the fire Friday.
NJ Transit contingency, plans just in case
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri was not available for comment on Monday, but John Wisniewski, the former chair of the state Assembly Transportation Committee, said Kolluri needs be prepared with a contingency plan if problems come up during the NBA Finals or World Cup.
"If there is some mechanical difficulty, what are the backup bus alternatives?" Wisniewski said. "If more than a number of engineers call out sick and you don't have enough engineers to operate the locomotives, you can have trains canceled. There needs to be planning to have backup employees."
NJ Transit released a statement later Monday addressing Wisniewski's concerns.
"As it relates to the Northeast Corridor, we are relying on Amtrak to ensure its infrastructure is in optimal condition and prepared to meet the significant travel demand associated with the tournament. Should an infrastructure issue arise, we expect Amtrak will be positioned to respond quickly to resolve the issue and restore service as rapidly as possible," the railroad said.
"NJ Transit will have multiple contingency plans in place, including bus alternatives. However, given the volume of customers expected to travel on match days, there is no ideal substitute for the capacity and efficiency provided by rail service on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. That is why maintaining reliable rail operations remains a critical component of the region's transportation plan for the tournament.
"NJ Transit has been working closely with our transportation partners for 2+ years in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, and we are confident in the plans that have been developed to move large numbers of customers safely and efficiently."
