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Version 6 Version 7
No Major Problems as Penn Station Track Repairs Begin No Major Problems as Penn Station Track Repairs Begin
(about 1 hour later)
• Two months of train disruptions began today on New Jersey Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak, with track repairs underway at Pennsylvania Station. See our commuting guide.• Two months of train disruptions began today on New Jersey Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak, with track repairs underway at Pennsylvania Station. See our commuting guide.
• Some routes are unusually crowded and there have been brief delays, but no major problems have been reported. • There were brief delays, but no major problems this morning getting into Manhattan.
• L.I.R.R.: Most branches will have at least one train rerouted to Brooklyn or Queens. See schedule.
• N.J. Transit: Nearly all Midtown Direct trains will end at Hoboken. See schedule. Morris and Essex lines also have a special schedule.
• Amtrak: Changes will affect Northeast Regional and Empire routes but not Acela Express. See schedule.
• Your commute home might have to be different from your commute in.• Your commute home might have to be different from your commute in.
Regular commuters confronted thicker crowds than usual on some routes. Regular commuters confronted thicker crowds than usual on some routes this morning.
“Confusion? No,” Whit Waterbury texted us from a New Jersey Transit Morris and Essex line train. “Being herded like cattle & squished in? You bet.”“Confusion? No,” Whit Waterbury texted us from a New Jersey Transit Morris and Essex line train. “Being herded like cattle & squished in? You bet.”
Mr. Waterbury, 63, part of a small army of commuters that we have enlisted to send us dispatches, said the South Orange commuter parking lot was twice as full as usual at 7:10 a.m. Mr. Waterbury, 63, part of a small army of commuters that we have enlisted to send us dispatches by text, wrote that the South Orange commuter parking lot was twice as full as usual at 7:10 a.m.
“One stop at Newark Broad Street before Hoboken,” he wrote from the train, “but no idea how more people can fit in.” A New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor train was standing room only when it reached Princeton Junction shortly after 7 a.m., said Michael A. Zahorsky, another contributor texted us.
Big early-morning crowds were expected on the Morris and Essex line to catch the first trains into Penn Station, before the trains started terminating at Hoboken at 7 a.m. On the Long Island Rail Road, the 5:56 from Babylon ended at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn instead of Penn Station, but Ed McMahon, a contributor to our coverage, wrote the subway transfer was “seamless.”
A New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor train was standing room only when it reached Princeton Junction shortly after 7 a.m., said Michael A. Zahorsky, another commuter-contributor. In Queens, some people had expected big crowds on the No. 7 train at the Hunters Point Avenue subway station because many L.I.R.R. trains that normally go into Penn Station ended there. But at 8:15 a.m., most No. 7 trains heading into Manhattan were half-full at most.
“Just in my bit of the car, 12 people are standing,” Mr. Zahorsky wrote. More passengers were standing between cars. He guessed that about 150 passengers would have to stand from Princeton Junction all the way in to at least Newark.
On the Long Island Rail Road, the 5:56 from Babylon ended at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn instead of Penn Station, but Ed McMahon, another commuter-contributor, said the subway transfer was “seamless.”
In Queens, some people had expected big crowds on the No. 7 train at the Hunters Point Avenue subway station because many L.I.R.R. trains that normally go into Penn Station were terminating there. But at 8:15 a.m., most No. 7 trains heading into Manhattan were half-full at most.
On Amtrak, though, Rosie deus Santos, 62, a home-care assistant from Queens who commutes to Hudson, N.Y., was stranded at Penn Station when her usual train combined with another one that left early.On Amtrak, though, Rosie deus Santos, 62, a home-care assistant from Queens who commutes to Hudson, N.Y., was stranded at Penn Station when her usual train combined with another one that left early.
Her next option out of the city was a train leaving from Grand Central after 11 a.m.Her next option out of the city was a train leaving from Grand Central after 11 a.m.
“I can feel my blood pressure going up,” she said.“I can feel my blood pressure going up,” she said.
— ANDY NEWMAN, JONATHAN WOLFE and KHORRI ATKINSON— ANDY NEWMAN, JONATHAN WOLFE and KHORRI ATKINSON
Why now?
Three derailments this year — including one on Thursday — have highlighted the need to rebuild or replace some sections of the tracks at the nation’s busiest train station. And summer is the slowest time of year for commuting.Three derailments this year — including one on Thursday — have highlighted the need to rebuild or replace some sections of the tracks at the nation’s busiest train station. And summer is the slowest time of year for commuting.
How long will this last?How long will this last?
Work is expected to last eight weeks, through the end of August, according to Amtrak, which operates Penn Station.Work is expected to last eight weeks, through the end of August, according to Amtrak, which operates Penn Station.
What is affected?What is affected?
L.I.R.R. More than two dozen train routes have been canceled. The railroad is offering bus and ferry services to accommodate riders affected by the disruptions. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the railroad, plans to add cars to every train and to add several trains during off-peak hours. You can find schedule changes here. L.I.R.R. More than two dozen train routes have been canceled. The railroad has been offering bus and ferry services to accommodate riders affected by the disruptions. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the railroad, plans to add cars to every train and to add several trains during off-peak hours. You can find schedule changes here.
N.J. Transit. Most trains on the Morris and Essex line will be diverted from Penn Station to Hoboken Terminal; other trains that usually go to Hoboken in the morning will end in Newark. Many commuters will have to change trains or transfer to PATH trains, buses or ferries to Manhattan. Here’s a list of scheduled changes. N.J. Transit. Most trains on the Morris and Essex line are being diverted from Penn Station to Hoboken Terminal; other trains that usually go to Hoboken in the morning will end in Newark. Many commuters will have to change trains or transfer to PATH trains, buses or ferries to Manhattan. Here’s a list of scheduled changes.
Amtrak. The railroad has reduced service and posted a revised schedule. Three daily trains each way between New York and Union Station in Washington will begin or end their runs in Newark. Four daily trains between New York and Harrisburg, Pa., will start and end their routes in Philadelphia or Newark. See schedule changes here.Amtrak. The railroad has reduced service and posted a revised schedule. Three daily trains each way between New York and Union Station in Washington will begin or end their runs in Newark. Four daily trains between New York and Harrisburg, Pa., will start and end their routes in Philadelphia or Newark. See schedule changes here.
Morning or evening: Which commute will be messier?Morning or evening: Which commute will be messier?
Both will cause headaches. In the morning, everyone arrived at Penn Station at different times and from various locations. Many commuters gave themselves extra time to get to work.
In the morning, everyone is arriving at Penn Station at different times and from various locations. Many commuters plan to give themselves extra time to get to work.
But in the evening, the window of time when people leave work is much narrower. With fewer trains leaving the station each evening, commuters may face longer waits for their train home.But in the evening, the window of time when people leave work is much narrower. With fewer trains leaving the station each evening, commuters may face longer waits for their train home.
Leave yourself extra time. You can follow our coverage of the commute throughout the day here. Leave yourself extra time.
Smoke and a burning smell at Penn Station around 7 a.m. had some passengers alarmed, but it turned out to be non-transportation-related: Amtrak police said there was a small fire in the men’s room.Smoke and a burning smell at Penn Station around 7 a.m. had some passengers alarmed, but it turned out to be non-transportation-related: Amtrak police said there was a small fire in the men’s room.
The source, an Amtrak police officer said, was a marijuana joint rolled with a newspaper. A maintenance worker said that a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom caught fire.The source, an Amtrak police officer said, was a marijuana joint rolled with a newspaper. A maintenance worker said that a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom caught fire.
The bathroom was partially closed; no injuries were reported.The bathroom was partially closed; no injuries were reported.
— ALEXANDRA S. LEVINE, JONATHAN WOLFE and ANDY NEWMAN— ALEXANDRA S. LEVINE, JONATHAN WOLFE and ANDY NEWMAN
Hoboken Terminal was less crowded than usual, according to commuters, with extra transit employees in fluorescent vests on hand to answer questions.Hoboken Terminal was less crowded than usual, according to commuters, with extra transit employees in fluorescent vests on hand to answer questions.
“Many extra N.J. Transit personnel at Hoboken. Almost as many TV cameras,” Mr. Waterbury wrote.“Many extra N.J. Transit personnel at Hoboken. Almost as many TV cameras,” Mr. Waterbury wrote.
Alana Coble, 58, a commuter-contributor, appreciated the “high level of attention” that New Jersey and PATH employees provided. Alana Coble, 58, a contributor, appreciated the “high level of attention” that New Jersey and PATH employees provided. Workers were asking riders if they needed directions.
Posted signs that read “PATH, Ferry, Bus” pointed rerouted commuters to their options. Posted signs that read “PATH, Ferry, Bus” pointed rerouted commuters to their options. Screens with departure times were repositioned and spread out to avoid congestion, wrote Chris Bujara, a contributor to our coverage.
“A lot of people must have stayed home,” wrote Chris Bujara, another commuter-contributor. “Later in the rush may be another story. Try me again in another week as less intrepid souls return to the system or switch to earlier trains, and we’ll see how things are going.” “A lot of people must have stayed home,” Mr. Bujara wrote. “Later in the rush may be another story. Try me again in another week as less intrepid souls return to the system or switch to earlier trains, and we’ll see how things are going.”
— LUIS FERRÉ-SADURNÍ— LUIS FERRÉ-SADURNÍ