PRINCETON: Manpower shortage, maintenance issue knocks out Dinky service

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Dinky service was knocked out for parts of the past two days, first for a manpower shortage and then later for overnight maintenance by Amtrak, NJ Transit said Tuesday.
Bus service was substituted for the train line between the Princeton University campus and Princeton Junction in West Windsor. Shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Dinky was “back up and running,” NJ Transit said.
On Monday, NJ Transit went on Twitter to say Dinky service was suspended due to a “manpower shortage.” Some rail engineers are taking advantage of a clause in their contract that allows them to be out for 48 hours before choosing their next assignment, NJ Transit said.
“We don’t have a shortage in staff, it’s a just matter of a few of our locomotive employees who are exercising their contractual option that allows them to stay out for two days, in regards to pick assignments when rail schedules change,” said NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder on Tuesday. “There are individual employees who should put customers first and come to work and not exercise that two-day option.”
A union representative could not be reached for comment.
The service suspension came in a week when the Dinky was to be out of service weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. for rail work, NJ Transit has said. The disruption will continue into next week, also Monday to Friday, during those same times, NJ Transit said.
Bus service will replace the train.
NJ Transit also advised commuters of construction work at the Junction parking lot that will limit the available parking spaces.
Information and details can be found at njtransit.com.