Signal Problems Delay New Jersey Rail Riders
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Train passengers along Amtrak's busy Northeast Corridor faced delays of up to two hours after a fallen tree knocked out power and rail signals Wednesday.
The tree took down overhead power wires near Hamilton, N.J., around 5:30 a.m., causing delays between New York City and Philadelphia, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said. Just before 8 a.m., Amtrak trains were able to move at greatly reduced speeds, Cole said.
By Wednesday afternoon, Amtrak trains were running up to an hour behind schedule while workers restored signals in New Jersey, Cole said.
No passengers were stranded between stations, but some were placed on other trains after the railroad canceled three trains and terminated three in Philadelphia, Cole said.
NJ Transit, however, could not operate trains between Trenton and New Brunswick's Jersey Avenue station during the morning rush. Rail passengers were told to use other NJ Transit lines or buses, where their rail passes were accepted.
The commuter railroad was able to resume service by 10:50 a.m., although those trains initially faced delays of up to an hour, NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said.
The disruption came nearly a week after Amtrak canceled trains south of Quantico, Va., because a CSX coal train derailed, blocking all tracks. Amtrak trains running between Washington and Newport News, Va., and from New York to Miami, Charlotte, N.C., and Savannah, Ga., were affected by the track closure.
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