A low-speed train collision west of Montclair’s Bay Street Station left 17 people with non-life-threatening injuries Friday evening, December 19. According to NJ Transit officials, a train traveling through the 4th Ward struck the rear of another train at approximately 6:47 p.m., causing several train cars to partially derail. Neighbors reported hearing a sudden crash at the time of the incident.
Montclair Fire Chief Robert Duncan said this was the second derailment at the same location.
NJ Transit later confirmed that six of the injured were NJ Transit crew members. All passengers received proper treatment and have been released.
Service on the Montclair-Boonton Line returned to normal by Saturday morning.
What happened?
The derailment happened beyond the intersection of Pine and Claremont when one train struck another at a low speed. One of the trains sustained minor damage, with part of its metal exterior caved in.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on scene Saturday to lead the investigation into the collision, working alongside NJ Transit rail personnel. Officials said the agency completed its preliminary investigation, clearing NJ Transit crews to begin re-railing the affected train cars and removing damaged equipment from the area.
Montclair Township officials released a statement Sunday addressing the incident:
“NJ Transit has informed the township that normal service on the Montclair-Boonton Line is expected to operate as usual beginning today, following Friday’s train collision at the Bay Street station. Residents planning to commute are encouraged to continue checking NJ Transit’s official website for the most up-to-date service information and real-time alerts. We appreciate the community’s patience and extend our thanks to the first responders and transit personnel who responded swiftly to the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) remains on-site to investigate potential causes of the accident.”
NJ Transit Survey Open to the Public
Amid ongoing discussion about the recent train derailment, Montclair Township is reminding residents that the Montclair to New York City public transit survey remains open. The survey focuses on weekend and off-peak travel, when train service from Bay Street runs only every two hours and no bus service is available.
