(The following story by Larry Higgs appeared on the Asbury Park Press website on January 18.)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — NJ Transit officials are optimistic that a threatened strike by Amtrak employees will be headed off before a deadline next week, but they are planning for the worst, just in case.
And the worst means a reduction in regular rush-hour rail service by at least half, said Richard Sarles, executive director, at Thursday’s NJ Transit board meeting held at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
If Amtrak workers walk off the job on Jan. 30, it would cripple NJ Transit rail service by shutting down the busy Northeast Corridor line, which Sarles called “the spine” of the commuter railroad’s system. Amtrak is the owner of the corridor line, while NJ Transit is the tenant.
About 10,000 unionized Amtrak workers have been working without a contract since 1999.
In addition to potentially halting service on the Amtrak-owned corridor line, a strike would force North Jersey Coast Line trains to terminate at Rahway, the last station before that line joins the corridor, he said.
It also would force Raritan Valley Line service to terminate short of Penn Station Newark and would re-route Mid-Town Direct trains to Hoboken instead of Manhattan.
In Hoboken, riders can connect with ferries and PATH trains to New York.
Secaucus Junction also would be closed, Sarles said.
Some trains on the Morris and Essex line would be consolidated, he said.
Sarles said NJ Transit officials plan to use shuttle buses to pick up the slack during the peak hours and to work with the state Department of Transportation to set up park-and-rides for displaced commuters.
NJ Transit rail tickets will be honored on PATH trains.
He cautioned commuters to expect delays and crowding and suggested that riders make alternate plans, if Amtrak workers walk off the job.
Sarles warned regular bus riders that they will probably see a lot of new faces crowding on regular NJ Transit bus routes, if a strike happens.