NJ Transit warned riders Friday morning they’re in for another day of delays and cancellations as the Fourth of July holiday weekend begins, thanks to the sweltering heat wave bearing down on the area.
This comes a day after travelers dealt with a score of issues during the afternoon and evening commute Thursday as temperatures topped 100 degrees — including a lack of air conditioning on some trains, delays of more than an hour, and outright cancelations.
“Due to extreme temperatures, rail service will continue to operate with expected delays and cancellations of select trains through the end of the service day today, Friday, July 3, 2026,” NJ Transit announced on social media at 6:17 a.m. Friday.
“NJ TRANSIT recommends customers avoid all non-essential travel.”
The agency announced at 4:48 a.m. Friday that rail lines were back to “operating on or close to schedule following earlier impact on the equipment, related to the extreme temperatures.” It also said Midtown Direct trains were no longer being diverted to Hoboken.
But that could change at any point Friday, especially as temps rise. Heat indexes are expected to top 115 degrees in some parts of New Jersey on Friday.
Officials said trains might have to reduce speed because the heat can cause power outages, tracks to expand, and overhead lines to sag or fall.
On Friday afternoon, Northeast Corridor rail service was subject to up 90 minute delays due to a disabled train near Metuchen.
One social media user on Friday morning asked NJ Transit to turn on air conditioning inside a train. The agency responded that heat can affect the AC systems on trains and buses and while they are inspected and maintain regularly, they sometimes “may not be able to keep up with high demand.”
Meanwhile, the temperature inside New York Penn Station reached 148 degrees on Thursday because the systems don’t work in heat of his magnitude, according to an ABC News report citing NJ Transit.
In the wake of Thursday’s disruptions, NJ Transit “implemented several measures to ensure our customers’ and employees’ safety and well-being, which was our highest priority,” spokesman Jim Smith told NJ.com on Friday.
That, he said, includes speed restrictions, switching from electric to diesel mode on trains when appropriate, dispatching rescue trains for those broken down, and the deployment of NJ Transit Police.
“Temperatures of this magnitude place extraordinary stress on rail infrastructure and equipment, making weather-related service impacts more likely,” Smith said.
“With triple-digit temperatures expected to continue through Saturday, the potential for additional heat-related service impacts remains. Our crews will continue to monitor conditions closely and respond as quickly as possible to any as issues that arise.”
This all comes two days after a 3% annual NJ Transit fare hike took effect on July. That is part of a law reforming the agency, signed by then-Gov. Phil Murphy in 2018.
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The issues Friday may be compounded at New York’s Penn Station by a high-profile party planned at Madison Square Garden tied to the wedding of pop mega-star Taylor Swift and her NFL fiancé Travis Kelce. The expected star-studded event has heightened security and is redirecting foot traffic around the building.
LIRR posted on social media: “Customers traveling through Penn Station should use the 34th Street and 7th Avenue entrance. There will be no entry from 33rd Street.” The city police department also announced there will be street closures and parking restrictions.
NJ Transit encourages customers to monitor njtransit.com for updates and njtransit.com/ABC for information about alternative travel.
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