Overhead Wire Failure Sends Midtown Direct Trains to Hoboken, Snarling Morning Commute

NJ Transit diverts service after Amtrak catenary damage near Secaucus

By The Garden State Gazette Staff
December 13, 2025

NEW JERSEY — A damaged stretch of overhead catenary wire near Secaucus forced NJ Transit to divert its heavily traveled Midtown Direct trains to Hoboken Terminal Thursday morning, snarling rush-hour travel and delivering another blow to New Jersey’s already strained commuter rail network.

The disruption, first reported by Red94, triggered delays of approximately 15 to 30 minutes on the Morris & Essex and Gladstone lines. Trains that normally run directly into New York Penn Station were rerouted to Hoboken, leaving Manhattan-bound riders to piece together the remainder of their trips via PATH trains, ferries, or buses.

NJ Transit said the detour was caused by an Amtrak overhead wire failure, underscoring the vulnerability of the aging electrical infrastructure along the shared Northeast Corridor. With unreliable power delivery from the catenary system, trains were unable to safely operate through the Hudson River tunnels.

To accommodate displaced riders, NJ Transit activated systemwide cross-honoring, allowing rail passengers to use PATH service at Newark, Hoboken, or 33rd Street, board NJ Transit buses, or ride select private carriers. While the measures provided alternate routes, they offered little relief from widespread congestion during the peak of the morning commute.

The incident follows a series of recent catenary and power-related failures along the corridor, renew­ing scrutiny of long-delayed electrical upgrades critical to maintaining reliable service. As of midday, neither NJ Transit nor Amtrak had provided an estimate for when full Midtown Direct service would be restored.

For thousands of commuters, the morning disruption reinforced a familiar reality: expect delays, plan backups, and allow extra time.