NEW YORK, N.Y. – Hundreds of NJ Transit riders endured a long, uncomfortable wait early Saturday morning after a train carrying approximately 700 passengers lost power and became stranded inside the Hudson River tunnel while traveling toward New York Penn Station.
Many of the passengers were returning home to New Jersey after attending concerts featuring Chris Brown and Usher at MetLife Stadium, one of the busiest concert venues in the region.
“We smelled smoke, like rubber burning, then the train stopped,” one passenger said. “Then the power went out.”
Two hours later, a second engine pulled the train out of the tunnel.
“They wanted us to walk, but they scrapped the plan,” she said.
NJ Transit has not released a statement regarding the incident. The transit authority has been plagued with problems in its network that have led to delays and transportation outages in one of the busiest sections of rail in the United States between New Jersey and New York City.
NJ Transit shares much of its busier track network with Amtrak. Outdated catenary overhead power lines and centuries-old signal/tunnel infrastructure frequently fail, causing massive cascading delays through the Hudson River tunnels and into NYC Penn Station.
The incident began around 2 a.m., when passengers reported smelling something burning moments before the train lost power and came to a stop beneath the Hudson River.
Riders trapped in sweltering conditions
With electrical power cut off, air conditioning and ventilation inside the train stopped working, leaving hundreds of passengers sitting in hot, humid conditions for nearly two hours.
One passenger said there was “a smell of something burning” just before the train came to a halt and the lights and power failed.
The disabled train remained stuck in one of the nation’s busiest rail corridors as emergency responders worked to determine the safest way to remove passengers.
Walking passengers through tunnel deemed too risky
Firefighters from the FDNY responded to Penn Station as officials considered evacuating passengers by having them walk along the tracks through the tunnel.
That plan was ultimately abandoned because of the logistical and safety challenges involved in moving roughly 700 people through the confined tunnel environment.
Instead, crews dispatched a rescue diesel locomotive, which coupled to the disabled train and slowly towed it into Penn Station at approximately 3 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The disruption comes as NJ Transit continues to serve tens of thousands of riders traveling to and from major events at MetLife Stadium. The rail line is a critical transportation link for North Jersey commuters and concertgoers, particularly during busy summer weekends when trains often operate near capacity.
Officials have not yet announced what caused the apparent electrical failure.
Key Points
- About 700 NJ Transit passengers were stranded inside the Hudson River tunnel after a train lost power.
- Many riders were returning to New Jersey after Chris Brown and Usher concerts at MetLife Stadium.
- Passengers were rescued after a diesel locomotive towed the disabled train into Penn Station.
FAQ
- When did the train become disabled?
Around 2 a.m. Saturday while traveling toward Penn Station. - How many people were on board?
Approximately 700 passengers. - Why weren’t passengers evacuated through the tunnel?
Officials determined walking hundreds of passengers through the tunnel posed significant logistical and safety challenges. - How was the train rescued?
A diesel locomotive was dispatched to tow the disabled train into Penn Station. - Were there any injuries?
No injuries were reported.
Source: NJ Transit, FDNY, passenger accounts
