NEW YORK — Officials say broken overhead wires are blocking train tracks, making Wednesday evening commutes messy.
The problems started in Kearny, New Jersey, around the start of the evening rush hour, delaying the commute home for many. Amtrak said crews are working to clear the tracks, with no indication when the situation will be resolved.
Around 5:30 p.m., Amtrak sent out an alert stating that service between New York City and Newark had been suspended due to downed overhead wires blocking the tracks. In an update, the railroad expanded that to travel between New York City and Philadelphia.
Several NJ Transit lines are also experiencing delays.
Amtrak said it expects major delays while crews work to resolve the problem. Amtrak offers assistance with changing reservations by calling the reservation center.
NJ Transit honors tickets.
Frustration for commuters
Video from Chopper 2 shows crowds of people outside Newark-Penn Station and trains sitting on the tracks in Elizabeth.
Wednesday marked the second day in a row of significant disruptions on NJ Transit due to the same issue.
“Every day there is a problem with the train,” said one commuter. ‘I’m not going to sit here and wait for a train. Anyway, I can’t go to work anyway.’
“We were on our way home and decided to have a drink, which was a bad idea because we were now getting hit,” said another.
“There’s nothing you can do but accept it,” another added.
Jenna DeAngelis
