NJ Transit’s Montclair-Boonton Riders Survive Another Commute

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Here are your unlucky numbers for October, Montclair-Boonton line riders: "6273."

NJ Transit officials didn't report a 5:30 p.m. cancellation on the Montclair-Boonton line Wednesday, a relief for frustrated customers who have seen several #6273 trains nixed this month.

An agency spokesperson told NJ.com said that multiple trains - all due to arrive at 5:30 p.m. - didn't operate on Oct. 6, 10, 13 and 16. The spokesperson said that NJ Transit planned to run the #6273 train for the Wednesday evening rush hour.

NJ Transit told Patch that the October cancellations on the MOBO line were due to mechanical and staffing issues. A spokesperson said those issues will be addressed when the agency’s annual schedule review happens.

"When our regular rail schedule change takes effect in less than two weeks, NJ Transit will maximize operational efficiency by requiring fewer engineers to run the existing level of service,” a spokesperson told NJ.com this week.

• See related article: Why Does This Montclair-Boonton Line Train Keep Getting Cancelled?

Following three of the cancellations, NJ Transit officials instructed MOBO riders to take train #6279, which arrives 40 minutes later from New York Penn Station.

After the cancellation on Oct. 16, NJ Transit advised riders to take the #6651 train at 5:41 p.m.

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Patch file photo