Penn Station is the single busiest transportation hub in North America and serves as the primary station for New Jersey commuters getting in and out of the city via train. Unfortunately, those commuters are going to have to find other transportation during the World Cup.
According to documents obtained by NorthJersey.com, Penn Station will be closed to everyone but World Cup ticket holders four hours before the start of eight different World Cup matches held in New Jersey this June and July.
While the plan has not been released to the public yet, the outlet has confirmed this move with an anonymous NJ Transit official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the not-yet-released plans.
According to the document, NJ Transit commuters will not be able to access New Jersey-bound trains at New York Penn Station for four hours before World Cup matches are set to start at MetLife Stadium as the station will be used exclusively by World Cup ticket-holders. Those ticket holders will have their tickets checked at entrances on 33rd Street and 32nd Street along Seventh Avenue.
“After the match, trains will arrive empty at Secaucus and will be fully dedicated to egressing [FIFA World Cup 2026] spectators,” the document said.
Natalie Hamilton, a spokeswoman for New York New Jersey Host Committee that is leading World Cup planning, did not provide a comment confirming or denying the news.
“The mobility plan is still being finalized and will be announced later this month. NJ Transit remains committed to safely transporting 40,000 fans to and from the FIFA matches, while also providing a transportation plan that will minimize the impacts to our regular riders to the greatest extent possible,” said John Chartier, a spokesman for NJ Transit.
Needless to say, this sounds like an absolute disaster for one of the busiest commutes in the United States.
About Dave Kelsey
Bets on sports stuff.