Pallone Blasts Amtrak Service Failures; Demands Refunds for Commuters

Long Branch, NJ - Congressman Frank Pallone today criticized Amtrak and NJ Transit for their failure to provide reliable service along the Northeast Corridor, leaving thousands of commuters stranded Monday due to ongoing overhead wire issues. Pallone demanded that the two transit agencies refund customers.

"Canceling trains during rush hour along the Northeast Corridor is completely unacceptable. Working people rely on dependable public transportation to get to work and back home, and this level of disruption cannot continue," said Pallone. "Amtrak and NJ Transit must immediately address these recurring failures and provide clear communication to commuters about what steps they are taking to ensure reliable service."

Monday's chaos began at 8:40 a.m. when overhead wire problems occurred at Swift Interlocking in Kearny, just north of Newark Penn Station. The incident temporarily halted service on Amtrak, NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line, and forced Midtown Direct trains to divert to Hoboken. Limited service resumed at 10:30 a.m., but the ripple effects caused extensive delays and cancellations into the evening commute. NJ Transit resorted to cross-honoring rail tickets on buses, PATH trains, and private carriers.

This latest incident follows months of disruptions caused by the century-old infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor. Pallone has been instrumental in securing $112 million in federal funding to modernize critical infrastructure, including $13.4 million for catenary wire upgrades, $18.6 million for signal improvements, and $80 million for enhancements at the Kearny Substation-key areas affected by Monday's outage.

Even with significant repairs in the last few months to the aging overhead wire systems, they remain a weak point. The wires, prone to sagging in summer heat and snapping in cold temperatures, require replacement with modern constant tension systems that can adjust to extreme conditions.

"Despite the billions in federal investments I've fought to secure, New Jersey commuters are still being let down," Pallone added. "This week's failure highlights the need for immediate action to replace outdated infrastructure. I will continue to hold Amtrak and NJ Transit accountable until they deliver the reliable public transportation New Jerseyans deserve."