NEWARK, NJ — After a three-day halt to rail service, NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri and Governor Phil Murphy announced on Sunday a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), allowing regular weekday train service to resume on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The agreement marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing labor dispute and comes just in time for commuters who rely on the system for daily travel. NJ TRANSIT is currently conducting safety inspections and preparing rail cars, tracks, bridges, and equipment in anticipation of the full service restoration. In the meantime, contingency bus service from four regional Park & Ride locations will remain active through Monday, May 19, to support riders.
“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a fair and fiscally responsible contract settlement that provides a generous wage increase for BLET members while saving taxpayers and customers the burden of fare increases,” said Governor Murphy. “This agreement reflects the commitment of both the BLET and NJ TRANSIT to remain at the table engaging in productive conversations. Most importantly, it ensures the resumption of rail service for the 100,000 people who depend on our rail system on a daily basis.”
NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri echoed those sentiments, adding, “I want to thank our customers for their understanding and apologize for any inconvenience during this time. However, it was important to me to reach a deal that didn’t require a significant fare increase.” Kolluri also praised NJ TRANSIT employees and the BLET for continuing to negotiate in good faith.
Fran O’Connor, NJDOT Commissioner and Chairman of the NJ TRANSIT Board, commended both parties for staying at the bargaining table. “We have seen just how critical our rail system is to our larger transportation network, and I am pleased that trains will be moving again shortly,” he said.
The tentative agreement still requires ratification by the BLET membership and approval by the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors. Until then, details of the contract remain confidential.
NJ TRANSIT will continue to provide updates at njtransit.com/restart, and customer ambassadors will be present at stations and Park & Ride locations to assist riders during the transition back to full rail service.
Below is more information from NJ Transit:
NJ TRANSIT continues to strongly encourage employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible on Monday, May 19, 2025, limiting travel on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only until rail service resumes on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Regional Park & Ride Service
Park & Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, May 19, 2025 from four regional Park & Ride lots, weekdays only, during AM peak period inbound and PM peak period outbound. Times of operation are listed in the chart below. Hundreds of NJ TRANSIT personnel will be deployed at rail stations throughout the system each day, as well as at these Park & Ride lots, to assist customers:
Park & Ride Service Times of Operation
No midday, late-night, weekend or reverse commute service will operate on these Park & Ride routes.
The Park & Ride locations were selected based on their size/parking capacity, access to regional highways, and geographical distribution.
Ticketing
All existing valid rail tickets and passes with an origin or destination of New York, Newark or Hoboken will be accepted for travel on all Park & Ride services and will be accepted on NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail lines.
Customers should purchase the following tickets from their bus Park & Ride origin:
Fares from the Secaucus, Woodbridge Center Mall and Hamilton regional Park & Rides are discounted from the existing rail fares from those locations. Adult, senior/disabled, and child fares will also be available, as follows:
NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes will be cross-honored on all NJ TRANSIT bus and light rail lines.
Important note: NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes will not be accepted for travel on Amtrak, PATH, PATCO, SEPTA, ferry or private carrier buses. Customers using these services must purchase separate fares from those service providers.
For additional information on alternative services from specific rail stations please visit njtransit.com/abc and click on your rail line to bring up your particular station.
Web Site and Travel Information
NJ TRANSIT has created a special web page available at njtransit.com/restart with the latest travel information across modes.
Information on NJ TRANSIT’s website is available in a variety of languages using Google Translate. To use a language other than English, click on “Select Language” at the upper right corner of the homepage and click on the language of your choice.
Customers may also access NJ TRANSIT’s X (Twitter) feed at @NJTRANSIT or the service accounts listed below. Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via push notifications in the Mobile App and through the My Transit alert system (www.njtransit.com/mytransit), which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your smartphone. Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.