Gov. Phil Murphy admitted he underestimated the extent of NJ Transit's problems and promised Thursday to put commuters "on a pedestal."

The contrite-sounding Murphy spoke to reporters after an hourlong meeting with NJ Transit's top directors about train cancelations during the past few weeks that have left commuters frustrated and upset.

"We understand the frayed nerves of riders," he said. "I don't blame commuters one bit for their anger and cynicism. We can and must do a better job."

If they don’t have enough employees to run a railroad and they don’t have enough coming down the pipeline - ADJUST THE SERVICE, CHANGE THE SCHEDULES, give the taxpayers a functioning transit system instead of the wholly unreliable mess it is now. @GovMurphy — Rich Haskell (@architrance) August 9, 2018

Commuters have criticized Murphy for remaining on vacation in Italy instead of returning to the state to address the problem of canceled trains and severe overcrowding.

The first topic Murphy addressed was canceled trains that officials blamed on locomotive engineers who take unauthorized days off. In June 2017, 111 trains were canceled compared with 245 trains canceled in June 2018, said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman.

"The overwhelming majority of engineers are doing everything we want them to. ... A small population spoils it for the broader population," Murphy said.

Union leaders blamed the unexcused absences on NJ Transit policy that only allots five sick days annually. That means an employee who used those five sick days earlier in the year now can be charged with an unexcused absence if they get sick, said James P. Brown, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers general chairman.

The five-sick-day maximum was confirmed by NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett, who said it is the agency's policy. However, employees are allowed to carry over unused sick days to the next year, he said.

"We're committed to working with the union to make sure the rank and file gets the rest they need and shows up to work," Corbett said.

Union leadership also has met with the governor's staff.

"We've been talking and working together to minimize this, but the fact is we're short of engineers," Brown said in an interview Wednesday.

Union officials and the governor agreed more engineers are needed.

"The bench has thinned dramatically," Murphy said, with the loss of 47 engineers over seven years.

If they're short engineers, maybe they should hire some more. And pay them market rate. — Mommy Dearest (@MissCrawford88) August 9, 2018

What else can they do better? Provide the basic service of a train that arrives on time and takes commuters to their destinations, and to quickly communicate problems to riders, Murphy said.

"We have to dominate communication. ... There are no excuses. We must control what we can control," he said. "The goal is to return the system to national prominence."

That includes advising commuters of long-term service disruptions and train cancelations due to Positive Train Control installation, until the federally mandated safety system is installed by Dec. 31. The governor also wants commuters alerted faster to canceled trains, so they don't find out when they are waiting on the platform.

"We are taking on a war-room-like mentality, especially through Dec. 31," Murphy said.

Other improvements, including hiring more bus drivers and buying new buses and trains, are in the new budget but won't be delivered immediately, officials said. Murphy reiterated that it will take several years to fix the agency's long-term problems.

@CommutingLarry @NJTRANSIT @PANYNJ_LT Life now is leaving for work 3 hours early, and still being occasionally late. I commuted via EWR to Columbus on Monday, and I got there faster than a bus took me 9 miles from Wood-Ridge to Manhattan today. Also bus has no A/C. — Jeff Hollis (@jeffhollis) August 9, 2018

Murphy, a Democrat, saved his harshest words for Republican legislators who he says have rapped his efforts to turn around the troubled agency. A joint hearing by the Senate and Assembly transportation committees into NJ Transit's problems will be held next Thursday.

Murphy questioned why the GOP lawmakers were silent during the years that Gov. Chris Christie underfunded NJ Transit for eight years, which lead to Positive Train Control installation being put on a back burner and only 11 engineer training courses held between 2010 and 2017.

"We are digging out of a mess. If anything, we underestimated the mess," Murphy said. "This is inescapable. There have been eight years of neglect."

State Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick said commuters have not received the information they need about the status of trains and train delays to plan their day.

"Blaming Chris Christie seven months into the new governor's term does not provide the needed information for our commuters," Bramnick, R-Union, said in a statement.

Christie spokesman Pete Sheridan fired back, touting that the former governor increased NJ Transits budget 56 percent over the eight years he was in office and brokered new new labor contracts with all of the unions.

"Governor Murphy promised a comprehensive study and big improvements when he entered office. We have seen neither in seven months," Sheridan said. "We trust that now that he has returned from his Italian Villa, he will focus on delivering what he has promised to the commuters in New Jersey."

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.