4:45 p.m. UPDATE:

Some 400 fans were waiting in security check lines at the Secaucus train station not long after 4 p.m. The lines moved along quickly even as more and more people came into the station from arriving trains. Within a few minutes, most had made it through security and on to the platform. Then more trains came in and the cycle repeated.

Fans of both the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos waited in line, but it was the Denver fans who stood out. "Let's go Broncos," they cheered. Some shouted "Omaha! Omaha!" — a reference to Quarterback Peyton Manning's complicated play call.

SECAUCUS — Thousands of passengers arriving from New York to the Secaucus Junction transfer station for the train to Super Bowl 2014 vented their outrage at the overcrowded trains and stifling heat.

"New Jersey sucks," some people shouted as they came off the New York trains. Many had peeled off coats and other outer layers of clothing, and were drenched in sweat from the high temperatures in the packed train cars.

People related stories of passengers passing out and paramedics being called in to help.

"Absolutely pathetic," declared Tammy Ritchie, after waiting 45 minutes. "The NFL had 40,000 people coming in buses. They knew there was going to be 45,000 people coming here otherwise."

Jeff Dunbar said he was stuck waiting for a half hour in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.

"It was probably 120 degrees. People had their shirts off. It was just not good," he said. "It was smooth up until Secaucus but Secaucus hasn't been that great."

He added, "People were chanting 'Jersey sucks,'" blaming (Gov. Chris) Christie -- just like the GW Bridge."

Dave Mannon said some passengers needed medical attention.

"They ended up sending people in there -- medics -- because a few people passed out," he said.

Security officers at first were checking every bag, but by 2:45 p.m., more than three hours before the game, checkpoints were overwhelmed by the crowds and people they were pouring through with little or no examination of what was on their person or what they were carrying.

Fans head to Super Bowl 2014 by train at Secaucus, where crowds and heat inside the station have been causing problems.

John Durso, spokesman for NJ Transit, said earlier today that large crowds had formed hours before the first train was to leave Secaucus.

"We are urging fans to give themselves plenty of time (to get to the game.)" Durso said shortly before noon.

Tonight's game was widely touted as the nation's first mass transit Super Bowl. Super Bowl organizers have said they expect about 10,000 to 12,000 people to arrive to the stadium by train and between 30,000 and 40,000 by bus.

NJ Transit said they had sold 13,500 trips by 3 p.m.

"It's been packed but it's moving," said Durso.

As fans arrived at MetLife from Secaucus Junction they recounted horror stories of sweltering heat and massive crowds.

"Worse than a sauna," said Jason Leavitt. "There were people passing out."

Leavitt and his wife Tara traveled from Denver for the big game. They said it took them

2.5 hours to get from New York Penn Station to MetLife stadium.

"It was really hot," Tara Leavitt said. "They had water. They were trying to make it work."

Celeste and Tom Lafferty, also from Denver, also said the Secaucus Train station was unbearable and made worse by the fact that most people were wearing layers in anticipation of a cold game.

"It didn't move. It was very hot," said Tom Lafferty. "There were a couple of people that must have fainted because I saw EMS people going through."

FROM THE STADIUM

While they all understood that intense security would cause delays entering the stadium, fans outside the entrance to Super Bowl 48 also agreed that it was better to take a shuttle than a train to MetLife Stadium today.

Kristen Pfeiffer and Mike Pfeiffer, a couple from Somerset County, said they were stuck at Secaucus Junction for nearly 90 minutes and saw two people collapse from what they described as sweltering conditions.

"It was like 90 degrees in there. Two people collapsed and were getting water. People were taking off their clothes, they were sweating really bad," she said.

Pfeiffer said they arrived at 1:20 p.m. but weren't able to board a train until nearly 2:40 p.m.

Shuttle commuters, like Broncos fans Victor and Kate Rodgers, said they fared much better taking a bus from a Lyndhurst hotel. They saw little traffic, and only needed about 45 minutes to pass the checkpoints outside the stadium.

"People didn't seem too upset," Victor Rogers, 33, said

Despite the crush of police personnel at the stadium and surrounding areas, Roger said the security wasn't much worse than what they see in Denver, where they are Broncos season ticket holders.

"It seems a bit heightened obviously, we don't see dogs and that kind of stuff," he said.

That wasn't the case for Jeff Chapman, a 48-year-old Seahawks season ticket holder from Arlington, Wash. who said he was taken aback by the swarm of police.

"It wasn't bad. We understand, but it's a lot different at home," he said.

Star-Ledger staff writers Mike Frassinelli, James Queally and Tom Haydon contributed to this report.

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