(cell phone photo)
HOBOKEN – A New Jersey Transit commuter train from Spring Valley to Hoboken crashed Thursday morning resulting in one woman’s death and injuries to 108 people. The train operated by New Jersey Transit appeared to not slow down when in crashed through the end of the line bumper and slammed into the terminal near the ticket counter, causing a partial collapse of the boarding area canopy and considerable damage to the old building.
The victim who died was one of hundreds on the platform during morning rush hour.
West of Hudson Metro-North Railroad service is operated by New Jersey Transit for the New York MTA’s Metro-North Railroad on the Pascack Valley Line.
This Pascack Valley train departed from Spring Valley at 7:23 a.m. and was to arrive in Hoboken at 8:38, but was delayed. The crash occurred around 8:45 a.m.
Hoboken service remains suspended. Metro-North customers who normally use the Pascack Valley Line or the Port Jervis Line into or out of Hoboken Terminal are advised that Metro-North will be providing alternative transportation beginning today (Friday), until further notice.
Customers who commute to Jersey City on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail can board the Hudson Line to connect at Grand Central to the 4 or 5 subway to Fulton Street to connect to the PATH train to Jersey City stations.
Metro-North is providing a limited shuttle bus service that will operate from the following stations during peak hours:
Middletown Station (Town of Wallkill) to Beacon Station on the Hudson Line
Harriman Station to Tarrytown Station on the Hudson Line
Palisades Center Park and Ride in West Nyack to Tarrytown Station on the Hudson Line
There are also ferry options available on the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry and the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry. West of Hudson commuters can connect with Metro-North trains into Grand Central.
The investigation into what caused the disaster could take weeks. NJT trains do not have the relatively new Positive Train Control system which could have automatically slowed the train down.
