Statement for New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit):
We are grateful to all of our customers for your patience and support during this difficult time.
Nearly one week ago, tragedy struck at Hoboken Terminal when one of our customers lost her life following a devastating train accident. No words can adequately express our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Fabiola Bittar de Kroon and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the injured onboard Pascack Valley Line Train #1614.
We know this is not an optimal commuting environment and that many of our customers have experienced longer wait times and overcrowding due to the ongoing circumstances.
As work progresses to stabilize and secure Hoboken Terminal, we have redoubled our efforts to provide parallel service across multiple modes to address the needs of those who utilize the station either as point of origin or terminus or as a pass through to other transportation outlets.
The loss of track space at Hoboken Terminal has had the greatest impact on our scheduling and is a key contributor to the crowded conditions our customers are experiencing. NJ Transit employees are working non-stop to return Hoboken Terminal to service for our commuter rail customers.
To provide you with options, an alternate service plan is available and can be found on our website. The alternate service plan is updated in the afternoon for the following days commute.
Additional trains and shuttle bus service have been added. Schedules have also been adjusted to reflect a more realistic timetable given the temporary limitations of the system.
Again, during peak travel (6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) the system is experiencing overcrowding. To address this condition, we have had trains and buses on certain lines (Main, Bergen, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis, and Montclair-Boonton and North Jersey bus routes) functioning in a “skip stop” fashion. This means as we become aware of overcrowding at stations and stops further down a route, when we can, we send an additional bus or train to fill in behind those vehicles that passed by regularly scheduled stops.
Again, we know these are trying times and we are striving to provide as much service as possible in a safe and efficient manner. Our efforts remain focused on restoring regular service across our system as soon as we are able with safety at the forefront. We encourage our customers to refer to our website at www.njtransit.com for additional information or contact our customer service office at 973-275-5555 (Operator-assisted 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
