NJ Transit officials reported that one of their trains was involved in an Amtrak wire issue, leading to rail service suspension on Monday. The incident occurred on the Northeast Corridor line in Kearny, resulting in delays and cancellations throughout the day. U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone demanded refunds for affected commuters from both Amtrak and NJ Transit.
While investigations are ongoing, NJ Transit spokesperson Jim Smith confirmed that the issue involved a pantograph on an NJ Transit train, but pre-incident inspections had not shown any problems. The wire problem caused suspensions on multiple rail lines and service resumed around 10:30 a.m. Amtrak reported minimal delays, while NJ Transit warned of ongoing delays and cancellations.
Pallone, who represents a district reliant on the affected rail lines, called the cancelations unacceptable and emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements. This incident follows an announcement just eleven days prior that previous equipment problems on the Northeast Corridor line had been resolved. Pallone has been advocating for federal grants to replace aging infrastructure in the area. Governor Phil Murphy has also acknowledged the long-term challenges in improving rail services in the state.
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