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Heat, Delays, Fare Looms
NJ Transit delays and disruptions left riders angry and stranded Tuesday night as commuters waited in overcrowded conditions and stifling heat at New York Penn Station.
“NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Delays and disruptions left NJ Transit riders angry and stranded Tuesday night, with some commuters reporting lengthy waits, canceled trains and little information as they tried to get home”
Rider Frank Fiorilli said, "I've been sweating since I got here," adding, "It's 80-something degrees in here and it's just been a miserable experience."
The disruptions came just one day before a systemwide 3% fare increase is set to take effect on July 1, a timing many riders criticized.
NJ Transit said multiple lines were affected by a signal issue near Newark Broad Street Tuesday night, as crowds rushed for elevators and platforms when tracks were finally announced.
Rider Zachary Chin described the moment as "You're just kind of waiting -- sitting ducks," hoping a train would be called for them.
Voices in the Station
In the same wave of service problems, commuters described canceled trains, little information, and long waits as they tried to get home.
One rider asked, "How would you feel if you wanted to get home to your family?" and warned, "If I don't catch that train, I'm going to get home at 11 o'clock at night to be back at work at 7 in the morning."
Another passenger summed up the evening simply: "It's been hell."
Eyewitness News anchor Michelle Charlesworth was also caught in the delays, according to ABC7 New York.
As tracks were announced, riders pressed toward platforms, with Chin saying they were "Hoping one of these doors open up and be like, 'This is your train.'"
A Viral Counterpoint
While some riders faced frustration in New York Penn Station, a Maplewood commuter named Ollie McAteer went viral for documenting his NJ Transit commute on TikTok and Instagram.
“NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Delays and disruptions left NJ Transit riders angry and stranded Tuesday night, with some commuters reporting lengthy waits, canceled trains and little information as they tried to get home”
McAteer boards the 6:26 a.m. NJ Transit train from Maplewood twice a week and heads to his job in Brooklyn, describing the ride as something he sees differently than other commuters.
He told the outlet, "People complain so much about NJ Transit. I think it's wonderful," and said, "I just like the different versions of everything."
His route takes him from Maplewood to New York Penn Station, through Herald Square and onto the F train before arriving in Brooklyn, with the full journey taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
McAteer framed the commute as an opportunity, saying, "You can go in and chase your dreams in your career, but also have that suburban lifestyle with New Jersey," and added, "I think we are so lucky."
