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All NJ TRANSIT photos
Same goes for all other agency rail and bus service throughout the state.
“This is unprecedented damage,” NJT spokeswoman Nancy Snyder told Transportation Nation.
Photos provided by the agency drive home the point.
According to Gov. Christie, NJ Transit’s Rail Operations Center —- the central nervous system of the railroad -— is engulfed in water, which has damaged backup power supply systems, the emergency generator, and the computer system that controls the movement of trains and power supply.
What’s more, downed trees litter the system, causing damage to overhead wires and signal wires.
Trains can’t operate on tracks that have more than two inches of water over the top of the rails because of the effect on motors.
Flooded Oradell bus garage
Crews have 500 miles of track and 300 crossings to inspect, as well as flooded train and bus stations.
They’ll likely start with three of the key spots: The flooded Lackawanna train station in Hoboken (PHOTO, above), Secaucus Junction and Newark’s Penn Station.
The North Jersey Coast Line and Atlantic City Rail Line are also washed out.
NJ Transit already got a good jump, clearing several hundred trees from the rail system. Washouts are a different story, though.
In some cases, the agency said, “addressing damage has gone beyond simply ‘repairing’ and instead requires ‘rebuilding’ … labor-intensive work, requiring both personnel and heavy equipment.”
Hoboken’s rail station wasn’t the only one to flood
On the positive side, the agency moved more than 210 buses from the Oradell garage to the Paramus Park Mall, saving them from damage from heavy floodwaters.
“Right now there is no estimate for service restoration,” Snyder said.
Here’s the rundown:
Bus Service: Camden only, limited.
Rail Service: Look for other ways around.
Light Rail Service: Ditto.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail had track washouts at the Port Imperial and West Side Avenue stations.
There are also trees in the overhead wires in Weehawken and flooding in Hoboken.
For the latest travel info:
- Listen to broadcast traffic reports;
- Twitter: @NJ_TRANSIT
You can also get travel advisories texted to you via the My Transit alert system. Call: (973) 275-5555
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