Is NJ Transit running today? Latest update for May 16 amid train strike

Engineers at New Jersey Transit went on strike starting Friday, bringing trains to a complete halt

Updated on: May 16, 2025, 14:22:26 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Engineers at New Jersey Transit went on strike starting Friday, bringing trains to a complete halt. This comes after the final day of negotiations between the rail service and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) failed to prevent a strike.

People board a New Jersey Transit train in Manhattan on May 15, 2025 in New York City ahead of the strike. (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)

The suspension will affect about 100,000 daily workers and concert-goers hoping to see Shakira and Beyonce live near Manhattan.

The two parties finished their talks at 10 PM ET on Thursday, as confirmed by NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was with him at the time.

Meanwhile, NJ Transit issued a plan ahead press release, asking commuters to work from home.

“As a result of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) membership voting down a tentative agreement reached between NJ TRANSIT and BLET leadership, the BLET is threatening to disrupt the lives of more than 350,000 commuters by calling for a strike as early as Friday, May 16. This would result in the complete suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service, including Metro-North west of Hudson service,” the release read.

The service announced that it has developed a contingency plan to accommodate an extremely limited number of rail customers.

Are NJ Transit trains running today on May 16?

NJ Transit rail service is currently suspended due to a strike.

Rail Service: All NJ Transit train services, including Metro-North Railroad west of Hudson, are suspended until further notice due to the strike.

Bus and Light Rail: NJ Transit bus routes, Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and River LINE are operating on regular weekday schedules, though increased traffic may cause delays.

Contingency Plan: NJ Transit has implemented a contingency plan, including:

Enhanced peak period service on select bus routes near rail stations (e.g., Northeast Corridor: 108, 112, 115, 129; North Jersey Coast Line: 116, 133/135).

Starting Monday, May 19, Park & Ride bus services will operate from four locations (Secaucus Junction, PNC Bank Arts Center, Hamilton Rail Station, Woodbridge Center Mall) during peak weekday hours.

A free shuttle bus service by the Port Authority is operating between Newark Penn Station and AirTrain Newark’s P4 station every 20 minutes, except from 2 AM to 5 AM.

MetLife Stadium: No NJ Transit rail or bus service is available to or from MetLife Stadium for events on May 15 and 16, including Shakira concerts, due to the potential strike.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.