KEARNY, N.J. — Operational problems caused by signal issues at New Jersey’s Portal Bridge will continue into the weekend for Amtrak and NJ Transit, although the lighter weekend schedules for both mean fewer schedule changes are planned.
NJ Transit plans to resume normal commuter rail operations on Saturday and Sunday. Its trains may still be subject to “possible minor delays,” the commuter agency said in a passenger advisory. Cross-honoring of rail tickets by NJ Transit and private buses, and by PATH trains, will no longer be in effect.
A total of 11 outbound and two inbound NJ Transit trains were cancelled during today’s afternoon rush hour and into this evening.
Amtrak advises customers that trains may continue to experience delays between New York and Newark, N.J. The passenger railroad, which had canceled most Keystone service between Philadelphia and New York City today, said regular Keystone service will resume on Saturday, except for train 661, which will operate only between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa. That train normally departs from New York at 7 a.m.; it will originate in Philadelphia at 8:30 a.m.
Signal issues at the Portal Bridge, the Northeast Corridor’s crossing of the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus, N.J., began Thursday [see “Problems at Portal Bridge disrupt Amtrak, NJ Transit service,” Trains News Wire, May 12, 2023]. An Amtrak spokesman said a contractor “caused an electrical issue affecting critical systems” at the site.
Will probably still have as many problems with new bridge as they have now.
Few years back they rebuilt a bridge not far from me. Put all the latest and greatest electronics in it for operations. Bridge still closed every other month because one or more of these gizmos going down. Seems like today’s engineers forget KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Bet Portal Bridge will be the same.
One alternate to Portal Bridge is to take PATH from Newark NJ to 33 St (and 6th Ave) in NY. There is one change at Journal Square (Jersey City). The JSQ-33 train runs via Hoboken on Saturdays but just stay on the train.
Makes me happy that the new bridge is now under construction and that the current bridge will be put out of it’s misery.