Updated: More Travel Woes for Midtown Direct Commuters

fter the lengthy delays during the morning rush, Montclair residents suffered more woes Thursday afternoon when New Jersey Transit reported that service on a number of lines, including the Midtown Direct, was suspended due to an Amtrak power supply problem.

The transit company said tickets would be cross-honored by NJ Transit buses and private carriers, such as Decamp, which serves much of Montclair.

The regionwide snafu, described as a low-voltage problem, hit Midtown Direct, the New Jersey Coast Line and Northeast Coast services.

[At around 6 p.m., NJ Transit said that train service had resumed but that travelers would experience delays of 60-90 minutes in both directions due to trains having to travel at slower speeds.]

On Thursday morning, commuters had reported lengthy delays getting into New York.

One Montclair resident, who usually takes the 9:00 a.m.  Montclair-Boonton train to New York  said she was still waiting on the platform at 9:25 and the train was nowhere in sight.  "I was lucky to get an express bus on Grove Street," she said.  "But I'll still be late for work."

Another commuter complained that at around 8:00 a.m. the scene in Hoboken was chaotic after her train was diverted from its usual end point at Penn Station.

"Hoboken was a nightmare. I don’t usually get panic attacks from crowds, but that pushed my limit," she said.  "I may have to switch to the bus."

To help prevent future commuting hassles, readers now have a tool to get up-to-date information on transit issues.  By texting 266-266 and typing in the name of the departure station and arrival station, commuters can get information on their best travel options within a minute.

Let us know what you think about the commute from Bloomfield to the city.