Commuters brace for transit chaos as Amtrak work looms

<p>New Jersey commuters say that they are bracing for what they are calling the &ldquo;Summer of Hell&rdquo; as service changes prompted by Amtrak&rsquo;s New York Penn Station improvements loom.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 7, 2017, 9:43 PM

Updated 2,494 days ago

Share:

Commuters brace for transit chaos as Amtrak work looms
New Jersey commuters say that they are bracing for what they are calling the “Summer of Hell” as service changes prompted by Amtrak’s New York Penn Station improvements loom.
The service changes being Monday and are expected to last for two months. Passengers who ride the Morris and Essex lines will not be able to travel directly to Penn Station, and will have to stop in Hoboken to find alternative means into New York.
“That’s going to make sure I don’t get to work on time every day,” says passenger Kaine Rosado.
New Jersey Transit spokesman Charles Ingoglia says that commuters need to make preparations now, before the Monday morning commute.
“The people that do their homework are going to have an easier time [traveling] than the folks that get off the train [unprepared],” he says.
The 23,000 commuters on the Morris and Essex lines will see the most impact by the changes. Passengers needing to travel into Manhattan will have to take the PATH or a ferry into Manhattan. The Morris and Essex lines, as well as some additional buses won’t be traveling from Manhattan to Hoboken either.
“Be aware of what service you took in, because it may not be available on the way out,” Ingoglia says.
Most of the NJ Transit lines will stay intact, but the agency says that three out of four riders will be affected by schedule changes.
Amtrak says that the agency is on schedule with the improvements, but unforeseen delays may cause work plans to change.
Ingoglia says that NJ Transit will promise fast communication with its riders if that should happen.
“We can't predict everything that’s going to happen to you. But we can tell you we're going to do our best to tell you what we know as soon as we know it,” he says.
News 12 New Jersey has compiled a list of commuter resources to help commuters, which can be found HERE.


More from News 12
2:06
Paterson homeowner says an abandoned home nearby is causing health, safety issues for his family

Paterson homeowner says an abandoned home nearby is causing health, safety issues for his family

1:53
Cloudy with passing showers for Monday in New Jersey

Cloudy with passing showers for Monday in New Jersey

0:28
Prosecutors: Discarded smoking material blamed for Lakewood fire that sent 3 to hospital

Prosecutors: Discarded smoking material blamed for Lakewood fire that sent 3 to hospital

1:13
Rainy Sunday impacts businesses on Cinco De Mayo

Rainy Sunday impacts businesses on Cinco De Mayo

0:55
Iconic Paterson hot dog stand Libby's Lunch sold at auction

Iconic Paterson hot dog stand Libby's Lunch sold at auction

1:50
Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

1:11
Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

2:06
New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger

New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger

3:01
 All I-95 lanes in Norwalk reopen one day after overpass demolition

All I-95 lanes in Norwalk reopen one day after overpass demolition

1:46
Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

0:42
NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

0:28
Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

0:42
Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

1:32
Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

0:27
Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

0:30
Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

0:27
Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

2:02
Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

1:04
Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

0:49
Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports