NJ Transit, Amtrak delays continue into and out of NY Penn Station due to downed wires

NJ Transit and Amtrak riders faced major delays into and out of Manhattan’s Penn Station throughout Monday, including during the morning rush hour, according to both transit agencies.

NJ Transit said rail service was suspended for roughly two hours on Monday morning on its Northeast Corridor Line between the station and Trenton due to “Amtrak overhead wire issues” near Newark.

Service was also temporarily suspended on the North Jersey Coast Line between New York Penn Station and Woodbridge, according to NJ Transit.

Service on those two lines had resumed with residual delays by shortly after 11:30 a.m., the agency said. Raritan Valley Line trains were originating and terminating at Newark Penn Station, and NJ Transit rail tickets were being cross-honored by PATH at Newark, Hoboken and 33rd Street.

Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of NJ Transit, said in a message to customers that they should expect “some impacts to continue into the afternoon and evening peak periods.”

He said Amtrak’s overhead wires came down on top of an NJ Transit train on the Northeast Corridor Line just east of Newark Penn Station around 7 a.m., disabling the train and forcing riders onto alternative service. Then, around 9 a.m., a second NJ Transit train on the Northeast Corridor Line lost power when part of the overhead equipment came down, Kolluri said, adding that about 300 customers were escorted to buses.

No one was hurt in the incidents, according to NJ Transit, which said it was working with Amtrak to restore full service as quickly as possible. Kolluri apologized to riders for the snafus.

“I know how disruptive this was to your morning commute, and I am truly sorry for the inconvenience, uncertainty and stress this caused,” he said in his message. “We know you depend on us, and experiences like this fall short of the service you deserve.”

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she was monitoring the situation and noted the extremely cold weather had contributed to the mess.

“These delays are unacceptable, and yet another reason why I’m fighting for the Gateway Tunnel,” she wrote in a post on X, referring to ongoing legal fights with the Trump administration over a $16 billion Hudson River megaproject aimed at improving regional rail service. “There’s no reason for delays like this to happen and for commuters to keep suffering.”

A spokesperson for NJ Transit said commuters should check for the latest service updates on the agency’s website or social media accounts.

Amtrak said its trains traveling between Philadelphia and New York were also disrupted by downed wires.

“We sincerely apologize for this delay and our crews are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” Amtrak said in a statement on X on Monday morning.

A spokesperson for Amtrak said service in the area was delayed by up to 60 minutes.

A train that was stopped due to “an infrastructure issue with the catenary wires” had resumed moving, according to the spokesperson.

Some trains were canceled as a result of the wire issues, Amtrak said. The agency pointed to its website as a place where riders can check for service updates.

This story has been updated with additional information.