A slow-moving New Jersey Transit train derailed Monday morning at Penn Station, causing service disruptions and delays for travelers trying to get into the city during the morning commute.
The cause of the derailment is believed to be a faulty wheel, WNYC reported. A NJTransit spokesperson was not able to confrim to Metro that the wheel was to blame.
There were approximately 1,200 passengers on the train when it pulled into the station.
On March 24, an Acela Express train had collided with an NJTransit train because of a broken wheel.
Officals reported no major injuries in the derailment that happened just before 9 a.m. on Track 9 and involved six train cars, CBS New York reported. As many as five people were transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries, WNYC reported. A witness told Reuters that a broken wheel was visible from inside of the car.
LaTosha Lewis, 39, was on her way from Newark, New Jersey, to her job as an accountant. She described chaotic scenes as railway employees sought to shepherd passengers to safety.
“They kept sending us up to the back of the car, then the front,” said Jakwonk Dean, 20, from Newark.
NJ Transit departures and arrivals at Penn Station were shut down at 9:30 a.m., according to reports. It will cross-honor tickets system-wide, and the Midtown Direct trains have been diverted to Hoboken. Amtrak and LIRR service has also been disrupted. Travelers reported long lines everywhere this morning, especially at Hoboken as they attempted to transfer to PATH.
Reuters contributed to this report.
NEC, NJCL, RVL & Midtown Direct rail service is suspended in and out of NYPS due to a derailed NJ Transit train in NYPS. (1/2)
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) April 3, 2017
MidTown Direct diverted to HOB. Cross-honoring system-wide w/NJT bus, private carriers, & PATH at NPS, HOB, and 33rd Street in NY. (2/2)
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) April 3, 2017
Five people were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries, WNYC reported.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a Twitter message, said his office was “monitoring the situation at Penn Station closely. Please give yourself some extra time to commute this morning.”
We are monitoring the situation at Penn Station closely. Please give yourself some extra time to commute this morning. https://t.co/EaICsvrlQ3
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 3, 2017
@ABC7NY the line to just get into the PATH station at Hoboken Terminal due to NJT delays. pic.twitter.com/igYzC7EHBt
— Matthew U (@M_Urquijo) April 3, 2017
This is the second NJ Transit derailment at Penn Station in as many weeks. On March 24, an Amtrak train sideswiped a NJ Transit car entering the Manhattan station.
