April 2017 is now the earliest projected launch date for the rail system, with SMART planning a startup period with no fares or reduced fares to entice the public into trying the train.
The LIRR said some westbound trains on at least seven branches were being canceled or diverted because of the broken rail. Nearly a half-dozen NJ Transit lines were experiencing at least 30-minute delays.
The rail agency announced Sept. 26 that it was only then beginning to ramp up speeds on the railcars during safety testing. But with 11 weeks left before the new year, officials have not pegged when the cars will be tested at their fullest capabilities.
Late last month, the agency changed the schedules for its Lakeshore West and East lines in preparation for the next phase of construction at Union Station. Since then, passengers have been complaining of delays, crowding and overheated cars.
For the foreseeable future, Regional Rail lines will run on a modified Saturday schedule after the trains were taken out of service when inspectors found a defect in the suspension system.
Concerns over staffing shortages at Ansaldo Honolulu JV had initially surfaced in October. At the time, the company's project manager said the firm had already filled most of the positions in question months earlier.
The proposal comes after major commuter rail delays Sunday due to problems with the Amtrak-owned signals near South Station. The same system also failed two months ago, causing daylong disruptions.
Train #3817 left New York Penn Station with about 300 passengers at 6:35 a.m., heading to Trenton, when it hit the man, whose identity was not immediately known. NJ Transit trains ran up to 20 minutes late, with regular service restored by around 7:30 a.m., according to the agency’s Twitter feed.
The issue is with the vehicles themselves. A problem with the propulsion system caused the first delays, and testing revealed "water damage in the inverters" for all seven cars.
After a car caught fire inside the Lincoln Tunnel and a train stalled in one of the Hudson River rail tunnels, the delays were the worst since several days of train problems last month drew attention to the rail tunnels’ deteriorating condition.
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