Jersey City, New Jersey — A fire that broke out under a PATH train during the Monday morning rush hour at Newport Station in Jersey City caused a lot of problems for commuters. They had to evacuate the area and several train lines were shut down. Around 6:19 a.m. EDT, thick smoke quickly filled a train car approaching the station. Passengers raced to get out, creating a lot of chaos.
Firefighters from the Jersey City Fire Department quickly got to the scene and worked with Port Authority personnel to handle the problem. The event made things even worse for the hundreds of people who use the PATH system to get to and from work every day between New Jersey and New York City.
Suspensions of service and other options for commuters
The incident immediately halted numerous PATH train services during the peak morning commute. This scenario includes the important lines from Journal Square to 33rd Street and from Hoboken to the World Trade Center. Although the service line from Hoboken to 33rd Street has resumed operations, the entire system continues to experience significant delays.
NJ Transit and NY Waterway are currently cross-honoring PATH tickets to help commuters who are stuck. They are also offering different bus and ferry options to help people get to their destinations.
A video that published on X (previously Twitter) shows the terrifying moments of the event. The video shows a train car quickly filled with smoke as passengers frantically demand for the doors to open. When they do, they rush out. The footage then shows flames coming up from under a part of the train while people run to safety on the platform. Some people who saw the fire said it was “five feet” high.
Casualties and an Ongoing Investigation Port Authority authorities verified that the fire erupted under a train traveling east at Newport Station. Chopper 2 flew over the situation and showed that many fire engines were parked around the area that was damaged.
After the evacuation, thirteen (13) people who had been on the plane were treated for breathing in smoke at the scene. Nine (9) of these people were taken to a hospital for more tests and medical care. No further serious injuries have been recorded.
The PATH system is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. They said that the cause of the incident is still being looked into. To find out what caused the fire, officials will look at a number of things, such as possible mechanical or electrical faults and the maintenance records of the train car that was affected.
The event is a clear reminder of how complicated and dangerous a busy metropolitan transit system can be. It makes over 165,000 journeys across the Hudson River every day.