Accident, no shows plague commute for LIRR, NJ Transit passengers
Some NJ TRANSIT trains have been canceled this week because engineers are choosing not to work under the terms of their contract amid the summer-long repair work at Penn Station.
NEW YORK — On Tuesday, delays, cancellations, and suspensions all snarled the morning rush hour for NJ TRANSIT and Long Island Rail Road commuters, CBS New York reports.
The LIRR’s Long Beach Branch service was suspended after two cars of a train with no passengers partially derailed, blocking access to the Long Beach train yard. MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said the train was going about five miles per hour at the time.
Meanwhile, some NJ TRANSIT trains have been canceled this week because engineers are choosing not to work under the terms of their contract amid the summer-long repair work at Penn Station.
NJ TRANSIT had to cancel two North Jersey Coast Line trains Tuesday morning due to a manpower shortage. Several trains were canceled Monday afternoon on the North Jersey Coast Line and Northeast Corridor line. An NJ TRANSIT spokesperson said engineers are allowed a 48-hour grace period to report for work after schedules are changed and that changes happen a few times a year, with trains occasionally canceled. For the full story, click here.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
The Maryland Transit Administration is advancing the nearly $1.4 billion Light Rail Modernization Program, which modernizes the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with new, low-floor vehicles and upgrades to all light rail stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently met for a budget workshop, during which staff outlined the significant service reductions Caltrain could be forced to make without new external funding.
Funding for the purchase of the railcars comes from the nearly $220 million in additional capital dollars Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated in November 2025 to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
With major events and increased travel expected across the state this summer, the Administration is focused on making sure people have a reliable, affordable alternative to driving so we can reduce congestion, support daily commuters, and keep Massachusetts moving.