[From Friday, when TJ was ducking out of town to escape Yankee Hysteria]

Last night was one for the NJ record books, as rail delays stretched through the rush hour, and on into Friday morning.

As I was heading home, the 5:50 p.m. from NY Penn stopped in Summit, as a disabled rush-hour train on the single track in New Providence blocked our progress, and blocked trains all the way back the line. I was lucky enough to disembark in Summit, and got a warm ride home from my wife.

But later, the problems really increased with a power outage. Trains stalled, cancelled, and announcements of 45 min to 1-hour delays. Likewise, commuters were directed to Path trains and Hoboken, to catch trains westward.
from NJT:

“Montclair Line train #6291, the 7:37pm departure is canceled. Passengers may use train #6293 the 8:37pm departure from New York Penn.

“Montclair Line train #6293, the 8:37 p.m. departure from New York Penn is canceled. Passengers may use train #6295, the 9:32 p.m. departure from NYPS.
Nov 05, 2009 08:51:16 PM

According to messages on Clever Commute….delays continued until just past midnight, as problems persisted. Tempers got heated, I can imagine. One Clever Commute customer wants to “arrange a BOYCOTT of New Jersey Transit, until they improve customer service and tell us what is going on.”

A noble effort, I’m sure. In a quick check, not a word of this in the Star-Ledger so far. I guess delays on NJT don’t qualify as “breaking news.”

I wonder if any of those reporters ride the rails?
 

-jerseyjim