As of this morning, Monday, October 12, every weekday Midtown Direct train out of Morristown runs to Hoboken. None go to New York Penn Station. The diversion runs through Saturday, November 14. NJ Transit expects regular schedules to return Sunday, November 15, once safety testing is done. If you rode the Morristown Line last winter, you have done this before. This round is different in one way. It's the second and final cutover onto the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. When it ends, the bridge behind most of the line's delays leaves service for good.
February showed where the commute breaks
The first cutover started February 13. Modified schedules ran from February 15 to mid-March. During those weeks, trains ran on a single track between Newark and Secaucus. TAPinto Morristown reported that NJ Transit cut rail service by roughly 50 percent for about four weeks. The same report said at least 27 trains were canceled systemwide on the first day. Riders described longer trips, crowded platforms and hard transfers, especially early in the morning. Hoboken became the pinch point, with PATH, the ferries and buses taking on the riders the trains no longer carried into Manhattan.
NJ.com covered the first full weekday commute and found crowding at Hoboken, four morning train cancellations and delays as long as 50 minutes. Many of the commuters it interviewed said the day went better than they had feared. NJ Transit's advice back then was to work remotely during peak hours if you could. Morristown Green passed that advice along in its February coverage of the Hoboken detours.
So the February lesson for Morristown wasn't really about the train ride. Most of the extra time and frustration came at the Hoboken transfer, and the October schedule runs through that same transfer.
The old bridge failed in the detour's final days
The bigger lesson came at the end of the first cutover. On March 13, two days before regular schedules were due back, ABC7 reported that damaged overhead wire on the old Portal Bridge had briefly suspended service. Limited service followed, with delays of up to 60 minutes. Regular passenger service on the new bridge's first track began March 16. Since then, part of every trip over the Hackensack has still depended on the old structure.
That structure opened for revenue service in November 1910. It's a swing span that rotates open for boats on the river, and NJ Transit says that opening and closing has caused malfunctions and delays. Portal North is a fixed, two-track bridge 50 feet above the water. It has no moving parts to stick. The work underway now moves the second track onto the new bridge. When it's finished, Amtrak says the old bridge will be retired.
That's why these five weeks matter more than February's four did. Since March, Midtown Direct trains have had one track on the new bridge. After this cutover, both tracks will be on it and the swing span will be out of service.
Buying the right ticket for October and November
The fare rules changed for this round, and they are the easiest place to lose money. Here is NJ Transit's guidance for riders whose usual destination is Penn Station New York:
| Ticket type | What to buy | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly, weekly or FLEXPASS | Hoboken via Newark Broad Street, for October and November | Good to Penn Station Oct. 1–10 and Nov. 15–30. Cross-honored from Hoboken into Manhattan Oct. 11–Nov. 14 |
| Weekday one-way | Hoboken | Cross-honored only on the three Hoboken-to-Manhattan options listed below |
| Weekend one-way | Penn Station New York | Weekend Midtown Direct trains still run to Penn |
| Weekend, with a Hoboken pass | Your Hoboken pass | Honored on weekend Midtown Direct trains |
NJ Transit says trips to other destinations may cost an additional fare. The weekend rows are the ones that catch people out. Your Hoboken monthly pass works on a Saturday train to Penn, but a one-way rider on that same train needs a Penn Station ticket.
From Hoboken Terminal into Midtown
On weekdays, NJ Transit cross-honors a ticket or pass to Hoboken on three connections, each with its own limit:
- NY Waterway ferry from Hoboken Terminal to West 39th Street, with extra service in the morning and evening peaks.
- PATH from Hoboken to the 33rd Street station only.
- NJ Transit bus 126, including Academy buses on that route, from Hoboken to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
You won't find an official weekday transfer at Newark Broad Street, Secaucus or Newark Penn that gets Morris & Essex riders to Penn Station. NJ Transit's public guidance for this line lists only the Hoboken options. Amtrak's briefing describes 44 weekday Secaucus-to-Penn shuttle trips, but it ties them to the Main/Bergen, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. NJ Transit also warns of earlier departures, fewer trains and longer travel times. It hasn't put a number on how much longer the trip from Morristown will take.
Without that estimate, February is the best guide. Delays clustered at Hoboken during the morning peak, and the ferry and PATH absorbed the overflow. A train that leaves earlier gives you slack exactly where the trip has broken before.
The days you stay in town
If your employer lets you follow NJ Transit's work-from-home advice for some of these weeks, Morristown has places to work. The Morristown & Morris Township Library at 1 Miller Road is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the school year, and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building. Group study rooms can be reserved online or in person for up to two hours a day. If you're working alone, you can take a vacant room on a first-come basis or reserve the Technology Training Center for solo use.
For a full desk day, En Masse Coworking lists weekday day passes at $35 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It accepts walk-ins and also offers open desks, dedicated desks, private offices and meeting rooms. On South Street, LOKL Café at No. 80 opens at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and stays open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
If you do drive to the station, NJ Transit's Morristown station page lists two lots, with 60 and 407 standard spaces, at a posted $7 a day or $120 a month. The page shows no parking changes for the cutover and is undated, so check with the lot operator before buying a month.
What returns in mid-November
The dates differ slightly depending on the agency. NJ Transit expects regular schedules on Sunday, November 15, subject to safety testing. Amtrak's briefing lists Monday, November 16 as the "Full Return to Normal Service," with other construction continuing into mid-December. Because NJ Transit's date depends on testing, check service status that weekend before you plan your Monday.
What comes back is better than what Morristown riders had before October. Your monthly pass to Hoboken via Newark Broad Street will carry you to Penn Station again from November 15 through the end of the month. Every Midtown Direct train will cross the Hackensack on a fixed bridge with no swing mechanism. NJ.com reported that the new bridge allows trains at 90 mph, compared with the old bridge's 60 mph limit.
A reliable Midtown Direct ride matters when you're deciding which street or which side of town works for your household. If you're weighing a move within Morristown or nearby and want to talk through how the station figures into it, Giannisi Homes is happy to schedule a consultation. We can also get your free home valuation started while the trains run through Hoboken.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
