A strike by New Jersey Transit train engineers has begun, halting commuter rail service and impacting hundreds of thousands of riders. Negotiations between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) union and NJ Transit failed to reach a deal on new contract terms, primarily concerning wages. While a deal was considered close, the strike commenced after last-minute talks broke down. NJ Transit has implemented a limited bus service, but it's estimated to accommodate only 20% of usual rail ridership, potentially causing significant traffic congestion in Manhattan. Negotiations are expected to resume on Sunday.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.