TRENTON, N.J. — NJ Transit is facing backlash from riders after the agency canceled 27 trains on Sunday, marking the onset of a month-long cutback in service due to construction work on the new Portal Bridge. The disruptions affected several lines, with the North Jersey Coast Line experiencing the highest number of cancellations.
Most of the train cancellations occurred in the morning, with additional disruptions continuing into the afternoon, according to alerts from NJ Transit. Riders were advised that this could be an opportune time to work from home if possible, as the agency navigates significant operational changes.
The impact was particularly felt on the North Jersey Coast Line, which saw 10 trains canceled, while the Northeast Corridor line lost nine, including the Princeton Shuttle. There were also cancellations across the Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton, and Raritan Valley lines. NJ Transit attributed the disruptions to scheduling complications tied to the ongoing work on the Portal Bridge.
The construction work is part of a critical project to transition one of two tracks on the Northeast Corridor line to the new Portal North Bridge. This process is expected to reduce weekday service from 332 trains to 178 over the coming month, allowing Amtrak construction crews to complete essential signaling and infrastructure improvements. The overall transformation is expected to be completed by March 15.
In a public apology addressing the inconvenienced riders, NJ Transit officials highlighted that the cancellations stemmed from the process locomotive engineers undertake to select new assignments, which is necessary when rail schedules are altered. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri emphasized that this situation is different from standard biannual schedule changes, as it requires all engineers, trainmen, and conductors to readjust their assignments.
Kolluri noted that typically, union members have a 48-hour window to bid for new roles whenever rail schedules change. However, this extensive overhaul meant that all engineers were required to choose new assignments simultaneously, creating substantial challenges for service continuity.
Union representatives from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen confirmed they had offered to expedite the assignment process but recognized the difficulties posed by the large-scale changes. As a result, a modified schedule will be implemented on Monday for the President’s Day holiday to provide time for crews to finalize their assignments.
NJ Transit and PATH, the rail service expected to absorb a greater number of passengers during this transition, both urged commuters to consider traveling during off-peak hours to alleviate congestion. Tuesday is anticipated to be a critical test of the adjusted schedule, as service normalization becomes a priority for NJ Transit officials and rail workers navigating these disruptions.