NJ Transit Expects Normal Commute After Monday's Chaos

Overhead wire issues caused major disruptions, but service is expected to return to normal on Tuesday.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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After a chaotic Monday commute due to overhead wire issues that caused delays, cancellations, and minor injuries, NJ Transit says a normal weekday morning commute is expected on Tuesday. Commuters are urged to check train status before leaving, but service is expected to resume on the Northeast Corridor Line between Penn Station New York and Trenton.

Why it matters

NJ Transit is a critical transportation system for the region, and disruptions to service can have significant impacts on commuters and the broader economy. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges with the region's aging infrastructure and the need for investment in improvements like the Gateway Tunnel project.

The details

On Monday, overhead wire issues caused a disabled train, disrupting travel and leading to delays and cancellations throughout the day. Service was temporarily shut down between Newark and New York Penn Station, and a rescue train had issues getting stranded passengers back to the station, creating a domino effect. A piece of debris from the overhead wires struck the windshield of the train, resulting in minor injuries to the engineer.

  • Around 7 a.m. on Monday, overhead wire issues caused a disabled train and led to the shutdown of service between Newark and New York Penn Station.
  • Around 9 a.m. on Monday, a train carrying passengers stopped in its tracks, and a rescue train had issues getting the stranded passengers back to Penn Station Newark.
  • Shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Monday, officials announced rail service had resumed on the Northeast Corridor Line between Penn Station New York and Trenton.
  • Just after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, officials said NJ Transit would operate limited service for the remainder of the day due to the morning's overhead wire issues.

The players

NJ Transit

The public transportation system serving the state of New Jersey.

Amtrak

The national passenger railroad service of the United States.

Mikie Sherrill

The Governor of New Jersey.

Gateway Commission

The organization overseeing the Gateway Tunnel project, a proposed new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

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What’s next

A judge has ordered the restoration of funding for the Gateway Tunnel project by this coming Thursday, but the project remains on hold until the Gateway Commission receives the necessary funding.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges with the region's aging transportation infrastructure and the need for continued investment in projects like the Gateway Tunnel to improve reliability and resilience for commuters in the long run.