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NJ Transit Rail Strike Halts Service for 350,000 Commuters

Negotiations resume this weekend as engineers demand pay parity, marking the first systemwide shutdown since 1983.

The NJ Transit station at Penn Station.
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Overview

  • More than 450 NJ Transit locomotive engineers began a strike early Friday, suspending all commuter rail service in New Jersey and New York City.
  • The strike stems from a wage dispute, with engineers seeking pay parity with peers at other regional railroads and management citing fiscal constraints.
  • This is NJ Transit's first statewide rail strike in over 40 years, leaving 350,000 daily riders scrambling for alternative transportation options.
  • NJ Transit has announced limited contingency bus services starting Monday, but these will only accommodate about 20% of usual rail commuters.
  • Negotiations are set to continue Saturday and Sunday under federal mediation, with both sides expressing a willingness to reach a fair and sustainable agreement.