MATAWAN, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy and NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri on Friday addressed the impact of the ongoing rail strike, confirming that all NJ Transit rail service is suspended statewide. A limited contingency bus operation will begin Monday morning.
Murphy criticized the decision by locomotive engineers to strike instead of continuing contract negotiations. Kolluri stated that while negotiations will resume over the weekend, NJ Transit is preparing to support affected commuters through a temporary network of buses and station assistance personnel.
The strike follows a March 10 tentative agreement that was not ratified by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET), the only one of NJ Transit’s 15 rail unions to reject the deal. The agency’s contingency plan, announced April 30, prioritizes support for more than 70,000 riders who travel to New York City, focusing on those transferring to PATH services at Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.
Bus service from four Park & Ride locations will begin Monday, May 19, and operate only during weekday morning and evening peak periods. Routes include:
- Secaucus Junction to Port Authority
- PNC Bank Arts Center (operated by Academy Bus) to Port Authority
- Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station
- Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station
Morning inbound service begins as early as 5:00 a.m., with outbound service starting at 3:00 p.m. No midday, weekend, or reverse commuting options will be provided.
NJ Transit will also expand service on select existing commuter bus routes near affected rail stations. Regular schedules will continue on NJ Transit buses, light rail, and Access Link paratransit services. Cross-honoring of rail tickets is available on NJ Transit buses and light rail but not on Amtrak, PATH, PATCO, SEPTA, ferries, or private carriers.
NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible, limiting travel on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only.
NJ TRANSIT customers without access to internet will have access to live operator assistance 24 hours a day by calling (973) 275-5555.
Regional Park & Ride Service
Park & Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning on Monday, May 19, 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 charts 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
Park & Ride Service Times of Operation
NYC-Inbound Transportation (Operates Weekdays Only)
| Pickup Location | Drop-Off Location | Hours of Operation (Weekdays Only) |
|---|---|---|
| Secaucus Junction Bus Plaza | Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) | 6:00 AM – 9:30 AM |
| PNC Arts Center (Operated by Academy Bus) | PABT | 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM |
| Hamilton Rail Station | Newark Penn Station for PATH Transfer | 5:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
| Woodbridge Center Mall (Operating from the lot adjacent to Sears) | Harrison PATH Station | 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
NYC-Outbound Transportation (Operates Weekdays Only)
| Pickup Location | Drop-Off Location | Hours of Operation (Weekdays Only) |
|---|---|---|
| PABT | Secaucus Junction Bus Plaza | 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| PABT (Operated by Academy Bus) | PNC Arts Center | 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Newark Penn Station | Hamilton Rail Station | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Harrison PATH Station | Woodbridge Center Mall | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
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.
Limited added capacity on existing NJ TRANSIT bus routes to/from NYC
NJ TRANSIT will enhance peak period service on existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations. The routes are as follows:
- Northeast Corridor: 108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
- North Jersey Coast Line: 116 and 133/135 bus routes
- Raritan Valley Line: 112 and 113 bus routes
- Morris & Essex Lines: 107 bus route
- Montclair-Boonton Lines: 193 and 324 bus routes
- Main/Bergen County Lines: 145, 163, 164 and 190 bus routes
- Pascack Valley Line: 163, 164 and 165 bus routes
Other NJ TRANSIT Services
- Bus: All other NJ TRANSIT bus routes will continue to operate on regular schedules.
- Light Rail: Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River LINE service will operate regular weekday schedules.
- Access Link: Service will operate normally, however customers should anticipate longer travel times as a result of anticipated increases in traffic.
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:
- 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.)
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:
| ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ADULT ROUND TRIP FARE | SENIOR/DISABLED ROUND TRIP FARE | CHILD ROUND TRIP FARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secaucus Junction | Port Authority Bus Terminal | $8.00 | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| Woodbridge Center Mall | Harrison PATH Station | $14.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 |
| Hamilton | Newark Penn Station | $24.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| PNC Arts Ctr. (Operated by Academy; Discounts available via Academy mobile app) | New York | $48.00 (paper/cash) | $24.00 (paper/cash) | $24.00 (paper/cash) |
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.
Discounted fares will apply for Park & Ride services. Full fare details, schedules, and real-time updates are available at njtransit.com/railstoppage and via NJ Transit’s customer service line at (973) 275-5555.