Officials warn of NJ Transit train chaos if NBA Finals go to Game 6 with World Cup match same day

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Transit train riders should be prepared for chaos if the NBA Finals reach Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on June 16.

Getting to Penn Station from New Jersey will be nearly impossible after 5 p.m. becasue it's the same day as the France vs Senegal match at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.

NJ Transit will only run dedicated World Cup trains westbound from Penn Station New York from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ahead of the 3 p.m. match.

Eastbound NJ Transit trains will run into Penn Station New York, until the match ends at about 5:30 p.m.

After 5:30 p.m., the trains will discharge all passengers at either Newark Penn Station or Newark Broad Street Station, where passengers will be directed to either PATH or Newark Light Rail to get to Hoboken, and ultimately to the PATH 33rd Street Station. PATH will transport those passengers at no extra cost.

Knicks fans traveling into Manhattan for the 8:30 p.m. game may have to transfer through Newark and take the PATH into the city.

After discharging the passengers, the NJ Transit trains will then become dedicated World Cup trains for the next three hours to bring up to 40,000 fans back to Penn Station New York.

Regular eastbound service will resume about three hours after completion of the World Cup match, or about 8:30 p.m.

NJ Transit will advise Knicks fans headed in to Game 6 to arrive at MSG before 5 p.m., or be prepared to change trains in Newark.

At the conclusion of the Knicks game, regular rail service out of Penn Station New York back to New Jersey on all rail lines will be available.

Knicks fans will not have to utilize PATH to get back to New Jersey after the Knicks game.

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.