NJ Transit service resumes after Amtrak fire that injured 5; residual delays expected
The FDNY says five people were injured -- two seriously and the other three refused medical attention.
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NJ Transit service to and from New York City resumed ahead of the evening rush after a nearly 12-hour shutdown caused by a fire in an Amtrak tunnel.
Gery Williams, Amtrak’s executive vice president of Service Delivery and Operations, said a contractor was doing regular maintenance in the tunnel that connects New Jersey and New York Penn around 1 a.m. when a fire broke out on the equipment. The cause is still unclear.
Williams said there is damage to the overhead wires, signals, the track and Amtrak equipment. According to the FDNY, five people were injured. Two were said to be seriously injured. More than 100 first responders assisted inside the tunnel.
Williams said work on the south tunnel will continue into the weekend, and that Amtrak services would not fully resume until Monday morning. NJ Transit trains also use this tunnel.
The residual delays were bad enough Friday night that some riders abandoned the train altogether - at a serious cost.
“Cancellation after cancellation," said Taegh Sullivan, of Philadelphia. "I now had to get an Uber from Manhattan to [Newark], and then a car service back to Philly. So, about $500 out of pocket today.”
“I am not taking the train back," said Lizzy, of Trenton. "Both trains are running very late, very behind, and both of them are going to be packed. So, I'm trying to now get an Uber, which is taking a while.”
Amtrak management apologized to all those affected. There was another fire in the East River tunnel between Penn Station and Queens just two weeks ago.
Amtrak owns Penn Station and the Northeast Corridor - critical rail services for daily commuters, and up to 40,000 additional fans during the FIFA World Cup in the coming months.
NJ Transit continues to cross-honor service via the PATH and NJ Transit buses at Newark Penn, Hoboken and 33rd Street in New York.
