Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NJ lawmaker demands refunds for transit riders amid Amtrak, NJ Transit meltdowns
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 12, 2024
Modified Aug 13, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 12, 2024
Modified Aug 13, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A New Jersey congressmember said he wants Amtrak and NJ Transit to issue refunds to riders when their travels on the public transit systems get disrupted.
Frequent delays and suspended service have left thousands of riders in the New York City area stranded over the last several months. One of the most recent incidents resulted in an hourslong suspension of service between the city and New Haven due to a broken track.
Speaking to the media on Monday, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer said it was time for Amtrak to invest billions of dollars in addressing maintenance issues.
“These delays and cancellations are a headache for commuters, a real obstacle for our transit system and frankly, a drain on our entire state,” he said.
Gottheimer introduced the All Aboard Act, which includes a "Rail Passenger Bill of Rights" to guarantee refunds for riders facing transit disruptions. If passed, the bill would change what he called Amtrak’s “run to fail” strategy and instead require the rail service to make proactive investments in its infrastructure before significant problems arise.
The congressmember said 657 NJ Transit trains were canceled in June, with 415 of them credited to Amtrak. Without Amtrak's issues, 92.3% of its trains would maintain punctuality, according to a press release from Gottheimer’s office.
Several of the transit meltdowns have been attributed to back-to-back heat waves and record-high temperatures over the summer. That's led climate and urban planning experts as well as elected officials to demand more from transportation leaders.
Gottheimer also called on Amtrak to deploy $6 billion in federal investments that Congress allocated for maintenance on the rail service's Northeast Corridor. His office said it's a major source of recent transit issues.
The lawmaker added that he would meet with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to push his plan.
“Delays and cancellations seem to be inevitable, but they shouldn’t be,” said Gottheimer. “Not for what we pay in taxes or for the cost of a train ticket. It’s expensive.”
A spokesperson for NJ Transit declined to comment. Representatives from Amtrak did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
This story has been updated with new information.
Tagged
Josh Gottheimer
new york city
nj transit
new jersey
Politics
transportation
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .