Lauren Rivera 
NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the labor union representing railroad workers, have reached a tentative deal to end the strike that led to a full shutdown of all NJ TRANSIT rail services on May 16th. NJ Transit services are set to resume on Tuesday, May 20th. Read on for more about the NJ Transit strike updates as of May 18th, 2025.
Updates as of 5/18
On Sunday, May 18th, NJ Transit and BLET reached a tentative agreement to end the first NJ Transit strike in 40 years. Since May 16th at 12:01AM, 350,000 New York-bound commuters have been without working NJT trains.
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NJ Transit services are set to resume on Tuesday, May 20th, “as it takes approximately 24 hours to inspect and prepare tracks, rail cars, and other infrastructure before returning to full scheduled service,” according to a statement released by the agency.
“This is a very good day for New Jersey,” NJ Governor Phil Murphy said at a press conference on Sunday night. “Now it’s time to get NJ Transit back to full speed for our commuters and riders, and to continue building our progress in fixing NJ Transit for the thousands upon thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on it every single day.”
Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla also thanked NJ Transit and BLET “for working together to reach an agreement that will restore train service,” he said in a statement shared with The Hoboken Girl. “I’m grateful both parties acted swiftly to avoid prolonged disruption, putting our residents first and demonstrating a shared commitment to public service by minimizing the impact on those who rely on them.”
On Monday, May 19th, NJ Transit will implement its bus contingency plan. The supplemental Park + Ride service will operate on a first-come, first-served basis from four regional lots. These include:
- Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
- PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York (Operated by Academy Bus)
- Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH Station
- Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station
NJ TRANSIT will also provide customer ambassadors at the stations and Park + Ride locations to assist travelers. Those who can work from home on Monday are encouraged to do so.
About the Strike
In late April, 87% of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers leaders + Trainmen leadership (BLET), the labor union representing NJ Transit engineers, voted down a tentative agreement with NJ Transit, citing the need for higher wages. Prior to the strike, engineers made an average of $135,000 annually, with the highest earners surpassing $200,000, according to a statement released by NJ Transit.
This agreement, initially proposed by NJ Transit, would have permitted locomotive engineers to make $172,856 beginning on July 1st, 2027, with the highest-paid locomotive engineer earning $286,000, an offer that the agency claimed is competitive within the Northern New Jersey region. “It isn’t reasonable to live and work in New Jersey, but demand to be paid like you live and work in New York,” NJ Transit said in a statement.
The details of the tentative agreement reached on May 18th are unknown at this time, but NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri claimed it to be “fair and fiscally responsible.” “The deal itself reflects a series of concessions that came together, by way of a work rule, that will eventually end up paying for the fair wage that the unions have asked for,” he said at the conference.
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