NORTH JERSEY, NJ — NJ Transit experienced unexpected train cancellations Sunday when it slashed its train service to begin infrastructure work, the agency said.
Over the next four weeks, the agency will reduce service as they they move a track from aging bridge in Kearny onto the newer North Portal bridge. (See a link to the new schedules at the end of this story.)
Riders heading into New York will have to stop at Hoboken terminal and switch to a PATH train, ferry, or bus.
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Commuters and officials were told last month to prepare, but according to the agency, there were significant cancellations on Sunday.
‘Some Assignments May Remain Unfilled…’
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The agency sent a note to commuters on Sunday saying, “We apologize to our customers for this morning’s train cancellations related to the Portal Cutover schedule adjustments. Engineers are provided up to 48 hours under their collective bargaining agreement to select their new assignments…
“Some assignments may remain temporarily unfilled with limited advance notice, which can result in cancellations. Unfortunately, the contract doesn’t permit this process to be done a week prior to the actual schedule change….”
Under an NJ Transit social media post, one rider complained about being late to work, and another commenter speculated the problems will continue after the weekend.
“This is a temporary transition issue,” the agency wrote, “and we expect service reliability to continue improving as all engineers finalize their assignment selections.”
A story on NJ. com said a total of 27 trains were canceled Sunday.
How Long?
The process of moving the track, wires, and electrical systems — known as a “cutover” — will run through March 15.
The only route that won’t be affected is the Atlantic City Rail Line, the agency said.
Customers who take the Morris and Essex, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton trains from New Jersey to Penn Station in New York City will instead have to buy tickets to Hoboken.
Some of the routes will start earlier in the day to give riders more time, the agency said.
The transfer of the track from the century-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River is part of the Gateway Program to ultimately improve rail service from New Jersey to New York, NJ Transit.
The track will be switched to the newer North Portal Bridge.
During the temporarily change, an estimated 18,000 more riders will stream into the Hoboken Train Terminal each day, both in the morning and during the evening, as they transfer to another mode of transportation.
The Future
NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said last month, “While the disruption is temporary, the benefits—including a far more reliable and resilient commute along the Northeast Corridor—will last for generations.”
Once the four-week project is complete, trains leaving New York will use the track on the new bridge, and trains heading to New York will resume on the remaining track on the original (116-year-old) bridge.
In fall, the remaining track will be moved from the old to the new bridge as well, NJ Transit said.
Once both tracks are moved to the new bridge, the original bridge will be permanently removed and the new bridge will accommodate all train traffic.
New Schedules And Changes
You can see the adjusted schedules and alternatives at njtransit.com/portalcutover.
You can also find them by clicking here.
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