GOVERNOR MURPHY, NJ TRANSIT PRESIDENT & CEO KRIS KOLLURI ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS UNION

NEWARK – Governor Phil Murphy and NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri today announced a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET), ending a three-day rail stoppage. Regular weekday train service will resume with the start of the service day on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, as it takes approximately 24 hours to inspect and prepare tracks, rail cars and other infrastructure before returning to full scheduled service. Contingency plans, including bus service from the four regional Park & Rides, will be in place and operating on Monday, May 19, 2025. NJ TRANSIT will continue to deploy customer ambassadors at stations and Park & Ride locations to assist customers as train service restarts.

“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a fair and fiscally responsible contract settlement that provides a generous wage increase for BLET members while saving taxpayers and customers the burden of fare increases,” said Governor Murphy. “This agreement reflects the commitment of both the BLET and NJ TRANSIT to remain at the table engaging in productive conversations, and I commend them both. Most importantly, it ensures the resumption of rail service for the 100,000 people who depend on our rail system on a daily basis.”

“I am pleased to join Governor Murphy to announce that we have reached a mutually acceptable agreement that is both fair for our locomotive engineers and affordable for our riders and New Jersey taxpayers. I want to thank our customers for their understanding and apologize for any inconvenience during this time, however, it was important to me to reach a deal that didn’t require a significant fare increase,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri.  “I appreciate the BLET leadership’s collaboration at the bargaining table and continuing to negotiate in good faith to get to an agreement. I also want to recognize the thousands of NJ TRANSIT employees who stepped up during this time to support our customers and minimize the impacts to the greatest extent possible.” 

“I commend both sides for remaining at the bargaining table to solidify an agreement that not only benefits our hardworking locomotive engineers, but also remains a fiscally prudent contract,” said NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman Fran O’Connor. “We have seen just how critical our rail system is to our larger transportation network, and I am pleased that trains will be moving again shortly.”

The tentative agreement must still be ratified by the members of the BLET, and approved by the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors. Details of the contract provisions are not able to be released at this time to allow for the ratification process to occur. With a tentative agreement reached, the BLET has agreed to halt the strike and return to work in order for service to resume on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Rail cars and infrastructure must undergo safety inspections, movable bridges that were open must be closed into place and equipment must be at the proper locations to resume.  NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations has immediately begun those efforts and is advancing them as quickly and safely as possible.

While those efforts continue, NJ TRANSIT’s contingency plans will remain in effect including the four Park & Ride locations. Complete details of all contingency efforts can be found at njtransit.com/restart.

NJ TRANSIT continues to strongly encourage employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible on Monday, May 19, 2025, limiting travel on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only until rail service resumes on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 

Regional Park & Ride Service 

Park & Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, May 19, 2025 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
• 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.)       

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. 

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:

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/restart 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.