BREAKING: Cargo train derailment poses problem to commuters
Courtesy of Don Perkins
By Sara Ridgway and Cody Louie | Published Dec. 8, 2017
UPDATE: As of 5:43 p.m., The University has extended the shuttle bus service between Wilkins Theatre and Elizabeth Station until 11 p.m. tonight.
A cargo train derailment at Union Station today has caused the suspension of the Raritan Valley Line between Newark Penn Station and Cranford in both directions.
The train was reported as being 140 cars long in an aerial video from Fox 5 that was posted in nj.com’s article covering the derailment.
Green Lane and Woodland Avenue have both been closed off to incoming traffic. With Woodland Avenue only being used as an exit from Kean.
Kean University police sent a blast email to students and faculty at 3:16 p.m. stating the derailment took place and that there were road closures as well as alternative travel options.
One group of police officers situated in front of the AVE Apartment building are directing students and faculty who needed to take the train, to Wilkins Theatre, where a trolley was running to take people to Elizabeth Station.
The trolley will be running this route until 7 p.m. tonight.
Adjunct Writing Professor Adrienne Bernhard was one of those individuals who needed to take the train in order to get home.
“I’m frustrated that I’m not able to get back to New York, where I live, but at the same time I’m relieved that I wasn’t on the train that derailed,” Bernhard said. “So it’s fortunate that they are taking action that’s appropriate. It would be nice if they had a little bit more information about how to redirect people.”\
As an alternate option for those taking the train, NJ Transit Bus #113 runs along North Avenue and makes stops near the North Avenue Academic Building as well as Cranford Station.
NJ Transit has given no further information regarding the time when the Raritan Valley Line is projected to run again.
However, it has put out a statement saying that “NJ Transit NEC & NJCL will cross honor RVL tickets and passes. Cross honoring in effect w/ NJT bus & private bus.”
Further details and information will be updated in this article on kutower.com.