WATCH: Gov. Phil Murphy Blames Chris Christie For NJ Transit Mess

The "mess" that's engulfed NJ Transit has compelled Gov. Phil Murphy to address the issues – and blame ex-Gov. Chris Christie for what he considers years of "failure." He made the remarks at a press conference that you can watch below.

Christie went after Republicans for the "hypocrisy" they've shown, he said, and for blaming his administration for problems at NJ Transit in a way that is "jaw-dropping" after they "sat on their hands for 8 years and saw this organization ravaged."

"I'm not passing the buck. At the end of the day we own this," Murphy said at a press conference at NJ Transit headquarters in Newark. "I want folks out there to realize the mess we're digging out of. In a way, I underestimated the mess."

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

Several trains that weren't canceled 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.

Read more: Northeast Corridor Resumes After Fatality In Metuchen: NJT

Commuters have already been dealing with a reduced schedule to accommodate installation of positive train control, a required safety system, when the agency abruptly cancelled trains nearly every day over the past week.

Murphy said his administration should have done a better job in communicating the improvements to the lines and the ensuing cancellations.

"Commuters can't expect to read a press release and expect to remember in August that you're going to have a change in service," Murphy said. "We have not done our side of the bargain."

Murphy said his administration has to go into a "war-room footing" when dealing with NJ Transit problems. "When we had the snowstorm challenges, we were in a war-room mentality."

NJ Transit riders, meanwhile, have blasted the agency for the resulting delays and confusion on social media.

Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz on Thursday sent a letter and a series of questions to NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett about the agencies chronic train cancellations and delays.

Corbett is expected to testify about NJ Transit's recent troubles before a joint legislative hearing with the state Assembly and Senate transportation committees next Thursday in Trenton.

“The incessant cancellations and delays occurring daily are a great concern,” wrote Munoz, R-Union. “There are several questions that must be answered to paint a full picture of the challenges NJ Transit faces and the possible solutions that will again make your organization the envy of our nation.”

Here is the press conference:

Governor Murphy photo