NJ Transit Cancels Several Trains Monday; Commuters Blast Delays

A rash of train cancellations hit NJ Transit riders hard on Monday, causing havoc for local commuters still reeling from a frustrating spate of Friday shutdowns. Lines that saw canceled trains on Monday included the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex, Main/Bergen/Port Jervis, Montclair-Boonton and Raritan Valley.

Several trains that weren’t canceled Monday saw delays up to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, unexpected changes to station stops and schedules sent riders scrambling onto social media for clues as to survive the rush hour.

Some riders reported packed, uncomfortable and allegedly “unsafe” conditions.

NJ Transit riders blasted the agency for the resulting delays and confusion on social media. Affected lines follow (story continues below).

Northeast Corridor

• Aug 06, 2018 09:24:28 AM - Service Adjustments Required to Advance Positive Train Control (PTC) Equipment Installation are in effect, some weekday trains have been temporarily discontinued or have changes to trip origin or destination impacting customers along the NEC, NJCL, M&E and PVL. Other trains throughout the system will have adjustments to schedules and/or station stops.
• Aug 06, 2018 09:19:33 AM - NEC train #3915 the 9:14am from Rahway is up to 10 min. late due to a late train ahead.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:45:58 AM - NEC train #3827, the 8:28am from PSNY, is up to 15 min. late due to an earlier equipment issue.

North Jersey Coast

• Aug 06, 2018 09:24:28 AM - Service Adjustments Required to Advance Positive Train Control (PTC) Equipment Installation are in effect, some weekday trains have been temporarily discontinued or have changes to trip origin or destination impacting customers along the NEC, NJCL, M&E and PVL. Other trains throughout the system will have adjustments to schedules and/or station stops.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:59:28 AM - NJCL train #3508, the 9:15am from South Amboy will not operate. Customers may take train #3230 which will depart South Amboy at 9:15am making additional stops.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:47:53 AM - NJCL train #3507 the 7:46am from PSNY will not operate today. Customers may use train #3223 departing PSNY departing at 7:46am.

Raritan Valley

• Aug 06, 2018 08:55:59 AM - RVL train #5170 the 9:18am from High Bridge will not operate today. Bus service from High Bridge to Raritan and train #5132 the 10:47am from Raritan.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:19:01 AM - RVL train #5711, the 8:04am from Raritan is cancelled due to operational issues. Customers will be accommodated by bus.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:29:25 AM - RVL train #5415 the 9:06am from Newark Penn Station will not operate today. Customers may use train #5719 departing Newark Penn Station at 10:06am.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:28:23 AM - RVL train #5711, the 7:17am from Union, is up to 15 min. late due to an earlier equipment issue.

Morris & Essex

• Aug 06, 2018 09:24:28 AM - Service Adjustments Required to Advance Positive Train Control (PTC) Equipment Installation are in effect, some weekday trains have been temporarily discontinued or have changes to trip origin or destination impacting customers along the NEC, NJCL, M&E and PVL. Other trains throughout the system will have adjustments to schedules and/or station stops.
• Aug 06, 2018 09:14:36 AM - M&E train #6617, the 8:42am from PSNY, is up to 30 min. late, due to an earlier equipment issue.
• Aug 06, 2018 09:13:21 AM - M&E train #416, the 8:57am from Newark Broad St. is up to 20 min. late due to track maintenance.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:40:44 AM - M&E train #6315, the 8:24am from PSNY, is up to 10 min. late due to an earlier equipment issue.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:20:58 AM - M&E train #6613, the 8:02am from, PSNY, is up to 15 min. late due to an earlier equipment issue.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:00:40 AM - M&E train #6620, the 7:33am from Dover will not operate. Customers may take train #6624, the 8:08am from Dover.

Main/Bergen/Port Jervis

• Aug 06, 2018 09:08:41 AM - MBPJ train #1210, the 8:51am from Paterson is up to 15 min. late due to a late train ahead.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:35:27 AM - MBPJ train #58, the 9:26am from Port Jervis WILL OPERATE today.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:22:11 AM - MBPJ train #0052, the 8:15am SEC arrival is up to 20 min. late due to accommodating earlier cancelled train customers.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:37:37 AM - MBPJ train #48, the 7:33am from Secaucus is up to 15 min. late due to operational issues.
• Aug 06, 2018 06:58:03 AM - MBPJ train #50 the 5:52am from Port Jervis will not operate today. Customers may use train #52 the 6:08am from Port Jervis.

Montclair-Boonton

• Aug 06, 2018 09:25:16 AM - MOBO train #6231 the 9:43am from PSNY will not operate today. Customers may use train #6233 departing PSNY at 10:29am.
• Aug 06, 2018 08:07:50 AM - MOBO train #1006, the 7:45am from Mountain Lake is up to 20 min. late due to accommodating customers from an earlier cancelled train.
• Aug 06, 2018 07:58:11 AM - MOBO train #6219 the 8:14am from PSNY will not operate today. Customers may use train #6227 departing PSNY at 9:09am.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE CANCELED TRAINS?

NJ Transit officials said some of the cancellations and changes were due to mandated – and long-awaited – work to install Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment, which began in June. Other stated reasons for Monday’s delays included “minor mechanical issues,” and “making additional stops from earlier canceled trains.”

Monday’s commuting situation brought back frustrating flashbacks to Friday, Aug. 3, when more than 30 trains were nixed throughout the day. On its Twitter account, NJ Transit blamed Friday’s issues on PTC work and a “higher-than-usual number of crew absences.”

The delays on Monday and Friday are not the only ones to frustrate local commuters in the past months. According to a NJ Transit spokesperson, in a six-week period starting June 1, there were 330 trains that did not run and 64 more trains that did not complete their runs, The NY Times reported on Friday. The agency operates about 18,000 trains a month.

• See related article: Gov. Phil Murphy Orders 'Full-Scale Audit' Of New Jersey Transit

NJ Transit announced many of Friday's cancellations and delays on its Twitter profile, having back-and-forth conversations with several angry commuters in the comments sections of its posts.

On Monday, the agency's social media team opted for a more general, catch-all post: "Happy Monday NJ. The social team is signed on today until 8 p.m."

Many of those who replied were not "happy," it seemed.

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