NJ Transit urges commuters to 'work from home' during Portal Bridge cutover project

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- As the Portal Bridge cutover project continues, NJ Transit officials have now asked people to work from home if possible.

For the next month, Amtrak and NJ Transit commuters can expect schedule changes, delays and cancellations.

Hoboken's mayor says Wednesday will be a true test as more people head back to work following a holiday weekend and numbers will show if ridership is similar to Tuesday or if it will ramp up.

Amtrak is transferring rail service from the old Portal Bridge to the new one over the Hackensack River.

Many trains are being rerouted to Hoboken, leading to crowding.



Temporary service changes started to go into effect on Sunday. There were 27 train cancellations on Sunday, three on Monday and five Tuesday.

On Sunday, NJ Transit officials apologized for the 27 train cancellations and blamed scheduling issues with unionized engineers.

A spokesman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which represents NJ Transit engineers, pushed back and said work assignments for their engineers were assigned at the last minute and had errors.

NJ Transit officials say while the disruptions are inconvenient right now, it will all be worth it in the end.

Service changes to know:

Weekday Midtown Direct trains on the Morris & Essex (M&E), Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line will be diverted to Hoboken. Weekend Midtown Direct trains will operate to/from NY Penn Station.



Midtown Direct customers on the M&E, Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line should purchase tickets/passes with a destination of Hoboken in lieu of New York.

For Midtown Direct customers with Hoboken as a destination on their tickets/passes, the following options will be available for travel between Hoboken and Midtown Manhattan:

Cross-honoring with NY Waterway ferries will be in effect on weekdays between Hoboken Terminal and W. 39th St. in Midtown Manhattan

Ferry service to Midtown Manhattan will be enhanced during the morning and evening peak periods

Cross-honoring will be in effect with PATH at Hoboken and 33rd Street only

NJ TRANSIT's 126 bus to/from PABT

For more information, visit NJTransit.com and Amtrak.com.


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