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N.J. Transit Train Derails, Causing Widespread Commuting Delays N.J. Transit Train Derails, Causing Widespread Commuting Delays
(35 minutes later)
A packed New Jersey Transit train leaving Manhattan derailed entering a tunnel under the Hudson River on Thursday evening, bringing the commute to a screeching, and maddening, halt.A packed New Jersey Transit train leaving Manhattan derailed entering a tunnel under the Hudson River on Thursday evening, bringing the commute to a screeching, and maddening, halt.
Thousands of commuters were stuck in Pennsylvania Station and on trains about to depart for the suburbs as all train traffic across the river was suspended. New Jersey Transit said on Twitter that it was a “minor slow-speed derailment” near the station and advised commuters to switch to the PATH train from Manhattan to Hoboken Terminal It was the latest mishap in a series of disruptions stretching back through last year, and it stranded thousands of commuters in Pennsylvania Station and on trains about to depart for the suburbs at the peak of the evening rush, as all rail traffic across the river was temporarily suspended.
The train, running on the Montclair-Boonton line, was scheduled to depart at 6:10 p.m. At about 6:20 p.m., wheels on one of its cars came off the track, New Jersey Transit said. It said that the train was carrying between 900 and 1,000 passengers but that none of them were riding in the car that derailed and that nobody was injured. New Jersey Transit said on Twitter that it was a “minor slow-speed derailment” near the station and advised commuters to switch to the PATH train from Manhattan to Hoboken Terminal.
The derailed train, running on the Montclair-Boonton line, was scheduled to depart at 6:10 p.m. At about 6:20 p.m., wheels on one of its cars came off the track, New Jersey Transit said. The train was carrying between 900 and 1,000 passengers, but the car that derailed was empty and there were no reports of injuries, transit officials said.
One rider on the derailed train said passengers were herded toward the back of the train from the front two cars, but were being held inside while New York City firefighters climbed aboard to investigate.One rider on the derailed train said passengers were herded toward the back of the train from the front two cars, but were being held inside while New York City firefighters climbed aboard to investigate.
Sandra Greenberg, a Matawan, N.J., resident who said she has been dealing with New Jersey Transit delays for 23 years, was among the horde of unhappy commuters. Sandra Greenberg, a Matawan, N.J., resident who said she has been dealing with New Jersey Transit delays for 23 years, was among the horde of unhappy commuters waiting at Penn Station.
“There’s always constant issues and there doesn’t seem to be resolutions to correct the issues,” she said, listing delays, overcrowding and decaying infrastructure as major issues with the system. “As a commuter and a taxpayer, it’s very frustrating.”“There’s always constant issues and there doesn’t seem to be resolutions to correct the issues,” she said, listing delays, overcrowding and decaying infrastructure as major issues with the system. “As a commuter and a taxpayer, it’s very frustrating.”
By 8:30 p.m., the main concourse of Penn Station started to empty out as many trains resumed service. But, for some customers like Jorge Gutierrez, whose train to Princeton, N.J., was canceled, a long night still remained ahead.
A 30-year veteran of the New Jersey Transit commute, Mr. Gutierrez, 56, said his commute has worsened in recent years.
He considered taking a bus home or the PATH train to Newark, but he figured waiting in Penn Station would still be the most convenient way to get home.
“The whole infrastructure has deteriorated over the years,” he said. “No money and no funding has been devoted to infrastructure and I wonder where all the funding has gone.”
Soma Reo, who works in information technology, said his 10-year-old son was going to miss his soccer practice because Mr. Reo’s train to Metropark in New Jersey was delayed. Mr. Reo, a regular commuter through Penn Station, said the constant service disruptions were disappointing given the price of train tickets.Soma Reo, who works in information technology, said his 10-year-old son was going to miss his soccer practice because Mr. Reo’s train to Metropark in New Jersey was delayed. Mr. Reo, a regular commuter through Penn Station, said the constant service disruptions were disappointing given the price of train tickets.
“Nobody is taking action on the delays,” he said. “Though they say sorry, we aren’t seeing improvements.”“Nobody is taking action on the delays,” he said. “Though they say sorry, we aren’t seeing improvements.”
Danielle Rye, 24, was sitting on her suitcase in Penn Station’s main terminal as she watched the departure board fill up with delays. Her train to Rhinecliff, N.Y., had already been delayed an hour and had not been rescheduled.
Ms. Rye said she was headed upstate to canvass for Diane Neal, an independent candidate for Congress.
“This is crazy,” Ms. Rye said, worried that she would not have a ride from the train station once she arrived. “We’re just waiting. It could be hours from now. It’s just really inconvenient.”
New Jersey Transit, the nation’s second-busiest commuter railroad, has been plagued by delays and canceled trains in recent months caused by a shortage of engineers and a push to meet a federally mandated deadline to install a computerized braking system.New Jersey Transit, the nation’s second-busiest commuter railroad, has been plagued by delays and canceled trains in recent months caused by a shortage of engineers and a push to meet a federally mandated deadline to install a computerized braking system.
Penn Station, which is owned and operated by Amtrak, has had its own share of problems. Two derailments last year led Amtrak to close off some tracks and rebuild them, causing disruptions that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo labeled a “summer of hell.” Penn Station, which is owned and operated by Amtrak, has had its own share of problems. Two derailments last year led Amtrak to close off some tracks and rebuild them, causing disruptions that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo predicted would lead to a “summer of hell.”
Amtrak officials said last month that they had completed more track repairs at the station this summer and that they expected service to run more smoothly. Two weeks ago, a New Jersey Transit train passing through one of the tunnels on its way to Penn Station became tangled in overhead wires and had a metal bar slice through its roof. The cause of that damage, which caused no injuries, is still being investigated.Amtrak officials said last month that they had completed more track repairs at the station this summer and that they expected service to run more smoothly. Two weeks ago, a New Jersey Transit train passing through one of the tunnels on its way to Penn Station became tangled in overhead wires and had a metal bar slice through its roof. The cause of that damage, which caused no injuries, is still being investigated.