NJ Transit
Reviews and Complaints

I am currently riding on a NJ transit bus to West New York via the 165. While boarding, I was talking to a family member on the phone for the first time since they had an important surgery. The bus driver stopped boarding to yell directly at me for being on my phone because he was annoyed. I was horrified because a) this is public transportation I pay for and can talk on the phone if needed. And b) I was planning to hang once we started traveling because I'm not a rude passenger. This was very uncalled for and I'm completely appalled. His number is 53173 and the bus number is 7826. This happened around 9:50pm going from NYC Port Authority to West New York.

I was on a bus this evening on my way to work the driver number is 518-230, bus number 6231 the 508 line at 9:12 p.m. Friday October 12th 2018 ticket number 3914 the driver on this bus was very rude when I got on the bus I let her know that I was going from Pleasantville to Galloway which is two zones and that I had mistakenly purchased 2- 1 zone bus passes. She proceeded to argue with me about using 2-1 Zone passes instead of 1-2 Zone. I explained to her that I did not have the $0.65 on me for the extra Zone and that to one's own should be sufficient and if not at the end of the first Zone I would get off of the bus and get back on. However she proceeded to park the bus and wait for me to come up with the $0.65 I already told her that I didn't have and having no regard for people on the bus that were on their way to work. There was a passenger on the bus that was kind enough to put the $0.65 in the machine for me so that way we could get going. But this driver was rude and very unprofessional.

I'm very disgusted, disappointment, and down right angry at how I was treated. Leaving the jets game was a horrible experience of shoving and hearding a huge group into the train. Nonetheless, upon searching for a seat I came across 2 seats for my father and I which was in a group of 6 seats. 3 facing each other on either side. There were 4 people that were already in seats and were also occupying 2 empty seats. I asked politely to sit there since all other seats were occupied and others were even standing. The man replied he was saving the seat for his pregnant cousin who was coming in which then I asked to sit in the other seat not occupied I explained to him I was in a car accident a week prior and I needed to sit. He said no. So after the train started to leave I said again I need to sit no one is coming he proceeded to involve his other people he was with who were acting intoxicated screaming profanities. I decided to sit because I paid for a ticket and I wasn't going to be denied a seat to an invisible person. The girl in the seat the pushed me and then the other passengers they were with started and all out screaming match. No attendant even came it was horrific. Then the man proceeded to smoke marijuana in my face blowing it in my face over and over again! I couldn't stand sitting there any longer because I do not want drugs in my system I'm a breastfeeding mother and was at my wits end. I went off looking for an attendant to alert them of the man smoking on the train to which I found a few empty seats near the end of the car in the train which a polite man welcomed us to sit with him. An attendant walked through the door a few minutes later and I explained to him that he was smoking marijuana on the train and blocking seats. The atttendant informed me he would not help me or do anything about the situation. I informed the attendant I can walk over and point out them and he said no it's not his problem and that If I want I can speak with the police after the train stops but there's no way to stop the passenger from getting off the train and being lost into the crowd. I can't believe this is your standards of how a situation where someone is smoking drugs on a train should be handled. I'm beyond disgusted and will continue to address what happened in as many ways as I can

As a 20 year rider on this line. I catch the 7:38 out of Hamilton each morning and typically catch the train home from NWK between 5:30 and 6:30pm.
The past 3-6 months have been some of the worst service in nearly 20 years. Train cancellations are all too common, trains are now breaking down as they did yesterday forcing us to switch trains. Shortage of conductors has been given as one explanation, which is unacceptable. You collect our monthly fares ON TIME every month but seem to have a problem transporting us ON TIME on a daily basis. NJ transit has single-handedly had a negative influence on my family life and my ability to spend quality time and moments with my loved ones. They've also had a negative affect on my productivity at work with the amount of missed meetings directly attributed to their lack of service.
I WILL BE COORDINATING AN EFFORT WITH OTHER PASSENGERS, TO SIMPLY WITHHOLD SHOWING OUR TICKETS TO CONDUCTORS ON DELAYED TRAINS OR WHEN TRAINS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. If you want to see our pre-paid tickets, show up on time. Maybe it will take us disrupting your employees from doing their jobs, for you to allow us to do ours.
Shock me for once, and have someone reply to me. You owe me more than $ can buy.
Pete Aquilino
[protected] cell

At 6:45 pm today, 10/09/2018, on Kings Highway, from Haddon Heights (Camden Co.) into Haddonfield a NJ Transit bus (#500 lit in the front window) pulled up behind me at less than 10 feet. I refuse to do any more than the speed limit (Kings Highway is posted at 25mph) when someone is tailgating me so I made sure I was doing 25mph. The bus then closed to within 5 feet of the rear of my vehicle and turned on his/her high beams. The bus continued to follow me at no more than 5 feet for about one 1/2-2 miles until it was stuck by a red light in Haddonfield. If I had to slow down for a pedestrian or other vehicle the bus would have struck the rear of my vehicle. I have never seen one of your drivers behave in such a dangerous and ill mannered way.

Bruce Atkinson [protected]

Today I was on the 6:55 pm bus going down Harrison Street in Montclair. The driver was speeding badly. He also completely ignored my 'stop request' and instead stopped 2 blocks after at the next stop. When confronted with the complaint, the young guy put the blame back on me stating that I did not hit the button on time. I hit the 'stop request' button 2 blocks before my stop which he blasted through.

I am sick and tired of no transit Because they asking for $210 a month. Because they consistently canceling trains I can't even get home so I'm losing more money for a cab just to get home. NJ transit need to compensate me for almost three times A WEEK FOR TAKING CAB HOME OR GIVE ME A DISCOUNT FOR THE MONTHLY PATH. Nj transit doesn't care about the consumer that rely on there services everyday. And everyday I can lose my job because I'm always late. It doesn't matter how early I take the train I still end up being late for work! They continue to ask for $210 a month just to make you late and possibly lose my job. BUT NO ONE CARES BECAUSE IT A COMPANY ABOUT MONEY AND TELLS THE CONSUMERS TO DEAL WITH IT!

The bus dispatcher monitoring gate 207 at 7pm on October 4, 2018 refused to cross honor NJ Transit train passes, despite the ticket counter and twitter feed indicating they would be cross honored. When I confronted the dispatcher, he called the police on me and had me removed from the bus, despite me posing no physical threat to him. When I apologized for my tone, he stilled refused to let me back on the bus. My commute has been delayed over an hour and I spent $13.50 that I did not need to spend. I find the dispatcher's conduct unacceptable, ask that he be reprimanded, and request a reimbursement of my $13.50.

Thank you,
Michael Jaeger
[protected]

On the evening of October 2, 2018 the NJ Transit posted alerts of a train strike at Brick church. Morris Essex trains to Summit were cancelled, but the Dover trains were still running. Is it too much to ask for NJ Transit to give honest time frames regarding how long it takes a train strike/police activity to be cleaned up? Please don't let commuters get on a west bound train out of Penn and then "trap" them on that train for hours not moving or creeping along, with conductors making occasional announcements that we'll be moving in "10 minutes". Let us know at Penn Station that we should find another way home or find something to do in the city for 2 to 3 hours. Post the announcement on the board and on your website. Don't pretend to not know how long the clean up will take.

I was on the 7:26 out of Penn and got to Convent Station about 10pm.

Today, October 2. I was waiting for the bus in Avon ave. The Bus should be stopped there. He just skipped the time was 8:55am. The bus number is 5813. He wasn't full, the bus driver he doesn't care about people who have to work or study. The bus was 25 and sometimes the bus 70 in the same stop, empty also skipped the bust stop. They should know the rules.

Dear Sir/Madam:
I have received communication that the Dinky will be suspended effective October 15th for the next few months. This is very distressing to us as commuters.

The substitute buses do NOT have a schedule and they do not coordinate with the North East Corridor train schedule. It is also our understanding that the train will need PTC-which I have been informed is incorrect since the Dinky does not operate on a line that needs the PTC. Its engineers will and cars will be deployed elsewhere-using this as an excuse to make the Dinky non operational is not acceptable to the Dinky commuters. Kindly reassess the circumstances and situation and not shut down our Dinky.

I can be reached at the above email or at simi.[protected]@gmail.com

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Regards

Simi

I use the app for my tickets... this day I had to run to catch the bus because the train was delayed so I could not activate the ticket in advance. When I stepped on the bus I did the process to activate the ticket and since there was someone waiting behind me I did it and showed it to the driver the fastest I could, apparently he did not see it well but instead of politely request me to show it again that he could not see it, he mistreated me and with a bad attitude told me "you have to wait, you cannot walk away without waiting". I am a very decent person and I do not have the necessity to avoid the payment of $1.60. I hope this complain goes to the pertinent party and this never happen to me or any passenger again, that was very embarrassing and unappropriate. Thanks. AM.

Trains sometimes have incorrect info displayed and voiced by the prompts making it confusing to know where the train is going. Today 09/24/18 the 7:18 HBLR pulled into the 22nd street station displaying 8th street as the destination, although it seemed to be headed towards Hoboken. I was confused and did not board. Once the train left, then Hoboken Terminal was displayed. I missed the train and was late to where I was going as a result.

I would have relied on the track and direction, however, I have seen trains pull in on the "wrong" track, going in the opposite direction than usual so I didn't feel comfortable relying on that. I would like for the trains to be 100% accurate in displaying where they are going and what stop they are currently at because no one wants to ride in the wrong direction or get on the wrong train. Thank you

There needs to be more 10 buses en route towards Journal Square in the morning. They're often packed to the front and the drivers have no choice but to keep going. When the next bus comes it's the same issue. These buses aren't large enough to hold many people. Either consider remodeling the buses or put more buses en route. Something has to be done. Especially now that winter is around the corner. People are going to be standing around waiting in the cold and snow for a packed bus that is going to pass right by them.

I never submit complaints in regards to anything but NJ Transit train service is so horrendous it is causing me to write this. This summer has been disasterous for commuters on the Dover/Morristown line. Non-stop cancellations and delays for no reason. Every day it is something new. This week alone on Wednesday, 9/19 the 7:24am train was delayed almost an hour for "signal problems". Tonight, 9/21, the 6:56pm train had "mechanical issues" and the conductor announced for passengers to get off and find alternate transportation as "we would be here for awhile". How do you justify passengers paying hundreds of dollars per month when they are receiving absolutely horrendous service. This sounds like robbery to me. If I had other options of getting to NYC - I would take it in a heartbeat.

I've been taking the NJ bus to commute to work in NYC, for 7 months now and all the bus drivers are pretty good. I've ridden and encountered bus driver M. Aquino on many occasions. I witnessed on several occasions, M. Aquino talking non-stop with male passengers, from the minute we depart the Port Authority, all the way to my stop in Elmwood Park. I mean, he's carry-on with one to two male passengers and laughing, talking in Spanish at the top of his lungs!. He is totally un-professional, I really should have complained about this sooner. I was boarding a the 161 to Paterson at 5:12pm, when a young lady and her 5 year old daughter were in front of me and I couldn't help but her M. Aquino, tell the lady "no you can't", then I realized the young lady with her 5 year old daughter, didn't have a ticket! M. Aquino, said "I can't take cash, you have to buy a ticket". I then remembered, I have a ticket, Form 7269, Valid for one way courtesy ride, for Bus, Rail Subway or HBLR. I gave this to the young lady, so she could board the bus... and everyone behind me, being held up due to this. Mr. M. Aquino, looked at the ticket and quickly, without reading the ticket, said "no, this isn't valid for the bus, only the light rail". He was rude to this young lady with her 5 year old daughter. The lady thank me for trying and got off the bus with her daughter. I sat in the first row opposite the bus driver, M. Aquino and we were taxing out of the Port Authority and I looked at the ticket again, it read valid for one way courtesy ride, Bus, Rail Subway or HBLR, so I began to say to M. Aquino in Spanish, :this ticket is good for the bus... He immediately said, in Spanish, " I'm not having this conversation with you", he said that with attitude! I then said in Spanish, "Oh when your talking [censored] with male passengers on the whole bus ride, you have time for that"? Mr. M. Aquino, then became animated, loud and said "Don't insult me"! I tried to explain, that I wasn't insulting him. Then he said "don't make me stop this bus and call the police and kick you off the bus! Then he said "if you have a problem, MAKE A COMPLAINT! I wasn't on the bus very long, I got off in Moonachie and I tried to show Mr. M Aquino the ticket and he lifted he's hand in a rude, disrespectful manner and waived his hand to get off the bus, mind you I was getting off already. As I stepped of the bus I muttered in Spanish "what an idiot". If this bus driver M. Aquino doesn't like his job, he should do something else.

I would like to be contacted, because this is unacceptable behavior. during Mr. M Aquino's threat about stopping the bus and calling the police... I said this to Mr. M Aquino, "you know me", I'm always pleasant and I've never been rude or behaved in bad manner, right?, he replied "yes", that's correct. I'm attaching a photo of the ticket, that M. Aquino wouldn't honor for the young lady with her 5 year old daughter.

I have been taking the nj transit bus for about over 5 years now and throughout those years i never felt the necessity to complain. There is this bus driver that comes everyday to Allwood Park and Ride at 7:20AM and he has a friend that he always flirts with on the bus ride, so she sits in the front all the time. Today i was in a hurry to get to work and didn't see her sitting there, so i went to go sit down and he told me "no you can't sit there", i am sorry but i should be allowed to sit whereever i like, i pay so much money a month. Anyway his lady friend finally came on the bus and sat in her normal spot. It's just not right. She calls him "Wiwi" which in all honesty made me cringe.

This is not the first time this has happened but I am reporting it because I am super fed up with my inability to arrive to work on time to piss poor bus service. On 9/19/18 I was set to ride on the 74 bus en route to Paterson (stop 19263 on Franklin Ave. and Essex Ave. in Nutley, NJ) at 955am. 955am comes and goes, no bus. 10am, 1015am, no bus.

I call the NJT hotline on the bus sign and they inform me that the reason the bus did not arrive at its scheduled time is because it arrived 15 minutes earlier than scheduled and that the next arriving bus would be at 1045am. This is totally unacceptable. Do the bus drivers get to arbitrarily choose when they begin/end their routes? Is there no penalty for the drivers who zoom through their routes? I understand if the bus would have arrived 2-3 minutes early (even then I would still be pissed because the bus only comes once per hour and I cannot afford to miss the bus) but 15 minutes? C'mon!

I am scheduled to arrive at work at 1130am - I left my house at 945am. I arrived at work at 1230pm (this is after power walking to work once I arrived at the Port Authority). I reiterate that this is not the first time this has happened with the 74 bus. It has left my stranded several times already (I only moved to NJ one month ago). I have had to ride on Uber multiple times in order to make my connections to the 190 or 192 bus heading to NYC.

I am asking that service be amped up on this line (I am not talking one or two buses per hour). I am talking about every 10-15 minutes, at worst - regardless of what time of day. I would also like to reimbursed for my Uber rides (I can furnish receipts). I have to make clear that this is my only way to get to work and I do not understand why even after giving myself almost two hours to get to work it still takes me three due to the inadequate service provided on this route.

I have also experienced this issue on the 74 route going towards Newark but that has only occurred once (honestly it is one time too many).

I can be reached at [protected]@yahoo.com if any further information is requested.

I live in Haledon. Every morning my routine includes walking 8 blocks to my infant daughter daycare. The daycare is one block away from the 744 bus. The stop is Haledon and North 12th St. The bus is supposed to arrive, coincidentally, at 7:44am. EVERYDAY THIS BUS IS LATE.. Unfortunately, this is a connecting bus for me to catch the 8:10 train heading to Secacus. Because of this bus driver, I am forced to walk the 8 blocks then walk and additional 4 blocks to catch the 703 arriving at 7:50am. This driver when is extremely nasty, rude, slams the brake, and is constantly late. Is this fair as a paying customer to go out my way to catch another route because she is horrible. Please remove her from this line. The other bus drivers who had the route before were much better. Bus number 6068

Last evening, 9/16/2018 at 6:38, the train scheduled to arrive. did not show. There was one announcement at 6:40 with no explanation, just "train cancelled". When the next train was due at 7:38, one hour later, it was announced 8 minutes late. It arrived and we asked conductor why the previous train was cancelled. He said there was not adequate staffing.
Ok so first question:
1) Why was there no adequate staffing?
2) Did no one think to inform dozens of people waiting for that train, that it would be cancelled before it was already 2 minutes late? Obviously if the train didn't leave Dover there would be no train at any other stations.
3)Why was there only one announcement?
4)Why wasn't it on the electronic board that was working when a train arrival was coming?
I would like some one to explain this to me.
I would like my money back for 2 tickets: $15.00.
I was unhappy with your service. there should b consequences.
Nancy Gallagher
[protected] 6th Avenue Brooklyn NY 11215