Amtrak repair work spoils NJ Transit’s week of free rides

Dozens of trains were delayed Tuesday, mostly in and out of New York Penn Station

Briana Vannozzi, Anchor | August 28, 2024 | Transportation

A week of free rides on New Jersey Transit isn’t enough to ease commuters’ frustrations. The rail agency was plagued with another night of delays on Tuesday, mostly to and from New York Penn Station.

A total of 116 trains were delayed, according to an NJ Transit spokesperson. The delays came on the second day of a weeklong fare holiday, which Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the agency to launch as an apology to riders who have put up with major disruptions throughout the summer.

Commuters shared their anger on social media, telling NJ Transit they’d rather have reliable service than a week of free rides.

An NJ Transit spokesperson told NJ Spotlight News Tuesday’s delays were caused by Amtrak conducting track maintenance in the afternoon; that work ended up going long after Amtrak determined additional repairs were needed.

Amtrak did not respond to questions about the repair work. Amtrak and aging infrastructure have largely been blamed for NJ Transit’s delays and cancellations this summer. Both agencies released a joint report last week highlighting their recent efforts to improve the transit system.