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NJ TRANSIT Rail: Contingency Service Plan for Possible Rail Stoppage – Effective Friday, May 16, 2025

Potential Rail Service Disruption

As a result of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) membership voting down a tentative agreement reached between NJ TRANSIT and the BLET leadership, the BLET is threatening to strike as early as Friday, May 16 at 12:01 AM. This would result in the complete suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service, including Metro-North Railroad west of Hudson service. In advance of such a stoppage, NJ TRANSIT has developed a contingency plan that would accommodate an extremely limited number of rail customers.

NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages all those who can work from home to do so and limit traveling on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only. 

 

Regional Park & Ride Service:

Should the BLET choose to strike beginning May 16, Park & Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Monday, May 19, from four regional Park & Ride lots, weekdays only, during AM peak period inbound and PM peak period outbound.  Times of operation are listed in the chart below.  Hundreds of NJ TRANSIT personnel will be deployed at these Park & Ride lots, as well as rail stations throughout the system, to assist customers:

  • Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
  • PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York (Operated by Academy Bus)
  • Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH Station
  • Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station

Park & Ride Service Times of Operation:

Park & Ride Service Times of Operation

 

Limited added capacity on existing NJ TRANSIT bus routes to/from NYC:

NJ TRANSIT will enhance peak period service on existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations.  The routes are as follows:

  • Northeast Corridor:      108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
  • North Jersey Coast Line:  116 and 133/135 bus routes
  • Raritan Valley Line:  112 and 113 bus routes
  • Morris & Essex Lines:  107 bus route
  • Montclair-Boonton Lines:  193 and 324 bus routes
  • Main/Bergen County Lines:  145, 163, 164 and 190 bus routes
  • Pascack Valley Line:  163, 164 and 165 bus routes

 

Other NJ TRANSIT Services:

Bus: All other NJ TRANSIT bus routes will continue to operate on regular schedules.

Light Rail: Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and River LINE service will operate regular weekday schedules.

Access Link: Service will operate normally, however customers should anticipate longer travel times as a result of anticipated increases in traffic, and additional passengers in vehicles. 

 

Ticketing:

All existing valid rail tickets and passes with an origin or destination of New York, Newark or Hoboken will be accepted for travel on all Park & Ride services, and will be accepted on NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail lines.

 

Customers should purchase the following tickets from their Park & Ride origin:

 

  • Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
    • Customers should purchase a Secaucus – New York rail ticket, available on the NJ TRANSIT mobile app or from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) at Secaucus
  • PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York (Academy)
    • Customers should visit academybus.com for ticket purchase information
  • Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
    • Customers should purchase a Hamilton – Newark rail ticket, available on the NJ TRANSIT mobile app or from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) at Hamilton
  • Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station
    • Customers should purchase a Woodbridge – Newark rail ticket on the NJ TRANSIT mobile app

Fares from regional Park & Rides are based on the existing fares from those locations.  

Adult, Senior/Disabled, and Child Fares:

Bus Fare Prices

 

Cross-Honoring:

During the rail stoppage, there will be no cross-honoring on Amtrak, PATH, PATCO, SEPTA, ferry, or private bus carriers. Customers using these services must purchase separate fares from those service providers. 

 

NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes WILL be cross-honored on all NJ TRANSIT bus and light rail lines.

 

Website and Travel Information:

For additional information on alternative services from specific rail stations, please visit njtransit.com/abc.

For additional information on the rail stoppage, please visit njtransit.com/railstoppage.

 

Customers are encouraged to subscribe to the latest updates via text messages and emails at My Transit Alerts, through the TRANSIT Mobile App (including customized push notifications), by visiting Travel Alerts & Advisories for the latest service-related information, or by following us at @NJTRANSIT or via your line-specific accounts on “X” (formerly Twitter).

The translated version of this notice in your preferred language is available through the Google Translate dropdown menu at the top right corner of the page. For more information and language assistance, please call NJ TRANSIT Customer Service at (973) 275-5555 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM daily.