New Jersey Transit warns riders to prepare for looming rail strike

New Jersey Transit, according to The Associated Press is warning commuters to reach their destinations by the end of the day Thursday, May 15, 2025, or risk being stranded due to the possibility of a rail strike.

The strike, if it occurs, would begin at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Friday.

NJ Transit reports that this could disrupt travel for roughly 350,000 daily commuters who rely on train services between New Jersey and New York City.

In anticipation of a potential walkout by train engineers, NJ Transit has released contingency plans to help manage the disruption.

The agency announced it would expand bus service during weekday peak hours, though the added capacity would be limited.

This includes increasing service on existing New York commuter bus routes located near train stations.

It also includes contracting with private bus companies to transport passengers from key park-and-ride sites across the region.

Despite these measures, NJ Transit made it clear that buses will not be able to accommodate the same volume of passengers as trains.

In fact, the alternative bus options would only be able to transport approximately 20% of the rail system’s normal ridership.

As a result, the agency is strongly encouraging anyone who has the option to work remotely to do so in the event of a strike.

NJ Transit, which is the third-largest public transportation system in the U.S., operates both buses and trains throughout New Jersey and into New York.

On an average weekday, it provides nearly 1 million passenger trips.

A strike would bring all NJ Transit commuter trains to a halt.

This will supposedly include the crucial lines that connect northern New Jersey towns and cities with New York City’s Penn Station via the Hudson River tunnels.

This disruption would also affect travel to Newark Liberty International Airport, which has already been dealing with unrelated delays and congestion.

The central issue in the ongoing labor dispute is wages.

Negotiations have stalled between NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the union representing the train engineers.

The union claims that its members currently earn an average of $113,000 per year and are seeking an increase to approximately $170,000 annually.

They argue that this raise would bring engineer salaries in line with similar positions in the region and make the jobs more competitive.

However, NJ Transit disputes these figures.

According to agency leadership, the average total compensation for engineers is currently around $135,000 per year.

The top earners are said to be receiving more than $200,000 annually.

Agency officials believe that the union’s proposed salary increase is excessive and not financially sustainable.

The looming strike would be the first transit-related labor stoppage in New Jersey in over four decades.

Tensions escalated last month when union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposed labor agreement offered by NJ Transit management.

This rejection signaled the growing dissatisfaction among workers and set the stage for the current crisis.

Efforts to resolve the dispute have included federal mediation.

Representatives from both NJ Transit and the union met with the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C., on Monday to discuss the matter.

However, there has been no official comment from the board or either party regarding whether any progress has been made in the talks since that meeting.

Negotiations are continuing behind closed doors as the Friday deadline rapidly approaches.

Meanwhile, commuters across the region are bracing for the potential shutdown of one of the busiest commuter rail systems in the country.

NJ Transit is urging the public to monitor updates closely and make alternate plans if needed.

The agency’s message is clear: if the strike happens, widespread service disruption is unavoidable.

Also, only a small fraction of normal ridership will be accommodated through bus alternatives.

As of now, both sides remain at an impasse, and the region is preparing for what could be the most significant transit disruption New Jersey has seen in over 40 years.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook