GOVERNOR MURPHY AND NJ TRANSIT PRESIDENT & CEO KRIS KOLLURI PROVIDE UPDATE ON IMPENDING NJ TRANSIT LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS STRIKE

Due to the Strike, Rail Service Will Not Operate Beginning at 12:01 AM on Friday, May 16, 2025; Employers Are Encouraged to Allow Workers to Work From Home If Possible; Contingency Bus Service to Launch Monday, May 19, 2025 to Support Essential Service

May 16, 2025

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tonight joined NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri Kolluri to provide an update on the impending strike by NJ TRANSIT locomotive engineers, who have opted to strike rather than agree to terms of a new contract.  As a result, the rail system throughout New Jersey will begin a safe shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 16.  Trains will not begin new trips past 12:01 a.m. however, trains already enroute past midnight will finish their trips. 

The strike comes after a tentative agreement was reached on March 10, 2025 that the leadership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET) previously called “fair and responsible.”  BLET is the only union of NJ TRANSIT’s 15 rail unions that has not signed the initial pattern bargaining agreement. 

“Over the past several weeks and months, we have been working around the clock to avoid this strike and keep NJ TRANSIT operating at full capacity. As always, our single-highest priority has always been to provide the best possible service to our state’s commuters and taxpayers,” said Governor Phil Murphy.  “This strike will upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans. My message tonight to our locomotive engineers is this: the path to a new contract will be paved at the negotiating table, not the picket line. Ultimately, it is the people of New Jersey who will suffer because of this strike. I am calling on our locomotive engineers to remain at the negotiating table to reach a fair and affordable deal so we can get the trains moving again as soon as possible and avoid raising costs on riders and taxpayers.”

“I have always said that any deal we reach would have to be fair to our engineers and fiscally responsible without burdening our riders or the taxpayers of New Jersey,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “While we, unfortunately, were unable to finalize a deal Thursday night, I am committed, as I have been since my first day on the job in January, to remaining at the bargaining table for as long as it takes to get an agreement finalized. We have an obligation to the hundreds of thousands of NJ TRANSIT customers to work around-the-clock until a deal is reached and rail service can resume for all those who rely on it every day.”

Contingency Plan

On April 30, NJ TRANSIT announced its contingency plan should the union opt to strike.  In developing its contingency plan, NJ TRANSIT focused available resources where demand is greatest—the more than 70,000 daily New York-bound customers, including customers who transfer from NJ TRANSIT rail to PATH trains at Hoboken Terminal and Newark Penn Station.  NJ TRANSIT estimates that the contingency plan can accommodate approximately 20% of current rail customers, as the capacity of the bus system cannot replace the railroad. This contingency plan includes enhancing select existing New York commuter bus routes in close proximity to rail stations and contracting with private carriers to operate bus service from four regional Park & Ride locations across the state during weekday peak periods.

NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible, limiting travel on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only. 

NJ TRANSIT customers without access to internet will have access to live operator assistance 24 hours a day by calling (973) 275-5555. 

Regional Park & Ride Service 

Park & Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-serve 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 rail stations throughout the system each day, as well as at these Park & Ride lots, 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

No midday, late-night, weekend or reverse commute service will operate on these Park & Ride routes.

The Park & Ride locations were selected based on their size/parking capacity, access to regional highways, and geographical distribution. 

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.

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 bus 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 (Tickets must be purchased in the NJT Mobile App. No in-person or on-board ticket sales.)       

Fares from the Secaucus, Woodbridge Center Mall and Hamilton regional Park & Rides are discounted from the existing rail fares from those locations.  Adult, senior/disabled, and child fares will also be available, as follows:

Cross-Honoring

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

Important note: NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes will not be accepted for travel on Amtrak, PATH, PATCO, SEPTA, ferry or private carrier buses. Customers using these services must purchase separate fares from those service providers.

For additional information on alternative services from specific rail stations please visit njtransit.com/abc and click on your rail line to bring up your particular station.

Web Site and Travel Information

NJ TRANSIT has created a special web page available at njtransit.com/railstoppage with the latest travel information across modes. 

Information on NJ TRANSIT’s website is available in a variety of languages using Google Translate. To use a language other than English, click on “Select Language” at the upper right corner of the homepage and click on the language of your choice.

Customers may also access NJ TRANSIT’s X (Twitter) feed at @NJTRANSIT or the service accounts listed below.  Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via push notifications in the Mobile App and through the My Transit alert system (www.njtransit.com/mytransit), which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your smartphone. Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555. 

• X: @NJTRANSIT
• @NJTRANSIT_HBLR
• @NJTRANSIT_NLR
• @NJTRANSIT_RL
• @NJTRANSIT_NBUS (North Jersey Bus)
• @NJTRANSIT_SBUS (South Jersey Bus)
• @NJTRANSIT_AL (Access Link)
• Facebook:  facebook.com/NJTRANSIT
• YouTube Channel:  TheNewJerseyTransit

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.