Fanwood Commuters Upset Over Train Delays

Commuters waiting at Fanwood Station mid morning on Wednesday were upset over the electrical difficulties which resulted in the suspension of New Jersey Transit trains to New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.

Electrical difficulties in Weehawken resulted in the suspension of service and left many stranded in Secaucus transfer station seeking a way to Newark Penn Station for PATH trains. PATH has been cross honoring tickets and PATH service is normal to Jersey City, Hoboken and Manhattan. Amtrak service in and out of New York has also been suspended leaving thousands of holiday travelers stranded along the Northeast corridor.

Many of the roughly 20 commuters waiting in Fanwood shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday were waiting inside the station and taking the delay in stride. Rita Kuhn, a Fanwood resident, noted that while she does not commute into the city on a regular basis anymore she has noticed that train delays are becoming more commonplace.

California tourists staying in Fanwood said this is the second time these delays have hit them during a trip to Fanwood.

"This sucks, it happened the last time we were here for the St. Patrick's Parade," Bill Kirk said, noting that during his family's last vacation to Fanwood there were no trains into Manhattan.

Kirk and his family did benefit from the delay though. The family was on it's way to the Statue of Liberty and the PATH train to the World Trade Center brings them closer to the ferries to the statue.

Others waiting in Fanwood took it in stride and agreed with Kuhn about the delays.

"It's New Jersey Transit and it's nothing new," Ian McNally of Scotch Plains said. "I've never heard of New Jersey Transit trains doing well."