Path train between new jersey and new york city
PATH Train between New Jersey and New York City

New Jersey Train Delays Blamed on Amtrak

Posted by
1 min read
May 9, 2025
A second day of snarled service left New Jersey commuters once again stuck in slow motion.

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey commuters endured a second straight day of major transit delays Thursday morning as both NJ Transit and PATH trains faced disruptions heading into New York City.

NJ Transit riders were first alerted just after 7 a.m. to delays of up to 20 minutes due to an Amtrak switch issue and ongoing track maintenance near Elizabeth. By the peak of the morning commute, those delays had increased to 30 minutes in and out of Penn Station.

According to NJ Transit, the issue stemmed from infrastructure managed by Amtrak, which controls the tracks leading into Penn Station. The delay came less than 24 hours after a similar issue caused problems for Long Island Rail Road commuters using the same corridor.

PATH service then suffered its own blow shortly after 8 a.m. when trains were suspended between Grove Street and Journal Square due to a reported “track condition.” Although PATH service resumed within the hour, delays lingered well into the morning.

Thursday’s disruptions come amid continued maintenance and upgrade work on shared infrastructure used by multiple transit systems across the region.


Key points

  • NJ Transit delays reached 30 minutes due to Amtrak switch and maintenance near Elizabeth
  • PATH trains suspended between Grove Street and Journal Square during morning rush
  • Second consecutive day of commuter disruptions involving Amtrak-managed tracks

Amtrak issues ripple across regional transit systems

Amtrak, which owns and operates critical portions of track used by NJ Transit, LIRR, and PATH, has been conducting a series of maintenance operations, some of which have triggered wider service impacts. Wednesday’s issues on the LIRR were also traced back to Amtrak-related disruptions.

The overlapping service problems have prompted renewed concern from commuters and local officials about aging infrastructure and coordination between agencies.

Neither NJ Transit nor Amtrak provided an estimate for when the issues near Elizabeth would be fully resolved. PATH did not elaborate on the nature of the “track condition” that led to its service suspension.

While delays eased by mid-morning, transit agencies warned of possible residual disruptions into the afternoon.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss