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Gov. Phil Murphy called a Thursday meeting with leaders from NJ Transit and Amtrak to address the recent spate of service disruptions, delays and cancellations rail riders have faced.

“I convened this meeting for obvious reasons,” said Murphy. “What I am about to say, I think, are sentiments held by literally everyone at this table. The performance of late, across the board, has been unacceptable. People don’t care why it happened. They want to get home; they want to get to work; they want to see their kids; they want to get to school – whatever it is.”

Murphy said the fix has to be a collective, coordinated effort among stakeholders.

Officials point to the need for improvements to upgrade and modernize rail infrastructure. They noted projects such as the Portal North Bridge and the longer-term Hudson Tunnel Project. However, those efforts do nothing to address the current reality. Recently, riders have suffered an unreliable, volatile experience – during a heat wave no less – leaving them angry, stranded and lacking faith in the rail system.

“We understand the impact the recent event had on both Amtrak and NJ Transit customers and their families – and we share their frustration,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “It’s vital we work with NJ Transit to identify the root cause of these disruptions and return to on-time service and the quality experience customers expect.”

“NJ Transit recognizes how disruptive these recent incidents have been to the quality of life of every rail customer who depends on the Northeast Corridor – and we are as frustrated as they are,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett. “NJ Transit will continue to work jointly with Amtrak to identify the root causes of these incidents as quickly as possible to restore reliability for all our customers.”

Game plan

Shortly after the meeting, Amtrak and NJ Transit announced a joint plan. The outline includes a recent acceleration of examinations, inspections, maintenance and improvement activities related to a variety of infrastructure and fleet systems.

The service has been unacceptable. That is a unanimous opinion. We will commit everything we can … to do everything we can to address this going forward. And we will accept no standard less than outstanding customer satisfaction.
– Gov. Phil Murphy

The two organizations say the effort will be holistic. It will focus on both Amtrak infrastructure – including the catenary, the overhead wires that power trains and comprise the electric traction system, signals and switches – as well as NJ Transit equipment, such as the pantograph system that connects to the catenary and draws power to the train.

Immediate actions include:

• Additional catenary and track inspections of the nearly 170 track miles between Trenton and New York City. The work will identify any issues that could cause pantograph damage;
• Visual inspection of all pantographs at key stations; NJ Transit has installed high-resolution camera to inspect pantographs;
• Externally supported reviews with industry experts to assist root cause analysis and develop solutions;
• Expansion of the helicopter catenary inspection and repair program;
• A joint review of Amtrak and NJ Transit delays and items impacting reliability;
• Longer-term actions to address state of good repair of Amtrak infrastructure.

Amtrak and NJ Transit plan to issue regular reports detailing their efforts and progress, as well as information on root causes. After identifying those, the two organizations will seek additional resources, if necessary, to address those issues.

Today I convened a meeting with @Amtrak and @NJTRANSIT leadership to discuss the unacceptable delays experienced by commuters.

We are committed to addressing the root causes of these disruptions to restore reliability along the Northeast Corridor. pic.twitter.com/uN56ZHjezh

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 27, 2024

“Thanks to each and every one of you for the spirit of goodwill,” Murphy said concluding the meeting. “The service has been unacceptable. That is a unanimous opinion. We will commit everything we can, especially maximum effort, transparency, real-time solutions – to do everything we can to address this going forward. And we will accept no standard less than outstanding customer satisfaction.”

Looking for action

All of this comes against the backdrop of the state budget battle with NJ Transit at its middle. Included in the proposal is a controversial new business tax. Poised to pass, the measure would serve as a dedicated funding source for the beleaguered agency. Additionally, a controversial NJ Transit fare hike is set to begin July 1.

The service meltdown has led to calls for action from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

“Despite the substantial increase in funding through fare hikes and the corporate transit fee, NJ Transit continues to struggle with punctuality and reliability,” said Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, R-24th District. He called for a comprehensive NJ Transit audit to identify and rectify underlying issues before allocating any additional funds. “New Jersey is not ready to host the World Cup – not even close.”

Bipartisan outreach

Earlier this week, the entire New Jersey congressional delegation sent a letter demanding U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to launch an investigation into the Amtrak malfunctions along the Northeast Corridor.

“Families across New Jersey count on accessible, efficient public transportation to get to work on time, be home for their children’s soccer games, and make their lives more affordable and convenient. Given the centrality of Amtrak and NJ Transit to these crucial goals and our long-running support in Congress for key investments in our region’s railway network, we have been shocked and deeply concerned by the recent breakdown in Amtrak rail operations along the Northeast Corridor and the resulting many hours of delays for tens of thousands of New Jersey commuters,” the bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote.

“We there ask that the Department of Transportation conduct a thorough investigation into what led to the breakdowns along the Northeast Corridor route – and what additional capital projects need to be completed to fix any structural deficiencies,” the letter continued.

“This is a substance-first approach,” said Murphy. “Let’s get away from the blame game. Let’s not play politics. No time for that. Let’s focus on substance. Let’s deliver outstanding customer service. Everybody at this table is committed to that.”