NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Repairs to the Hudson River Tunnels were completed Monday morning, but NJ TRANSIT ran into big trouble during the afternoon rush -- as a record 22 trains were canceled.

WCBS 880's Tom Kaminski said five trains were canceled on the Morris & Essex Line, five on the North Jersey Coast Line, four on the Montclair-Boonton Line, three on the Northeast Corridor Line, two on the Raritan Valley Line, and one on the Main & Bergen Line. Two more trains were also later canceled -- setting a record for one drive time.

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During the morning rush, NJ TRANSIT said repairs in the Hudson River Tunnels were being conducted overnight, but finished shortly after 6 a.m.

Amtrak repairs are now complete and NJ TRANSIT will operate on a regular weekday schedule in and out of New York for today, Monday September 10. — NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) September 10, 2018

Five trains were canceled as trains were unable to enter New York’s Penn Station.

Service had been expected to return to normal beginning at 5:30 a.m. Though, delays should be expected as crews work on installing positive train control.

NJ TRANSIT rail service is operating on or close to schedule into and out of PSNY, following earlier Amtrak overhead wire repairs in both Hudson River Tunnels. — NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) September 10, 2018

Riders were concerned about their commuter after photos emerged Friday night showing a metal pipe impaled through the ceiling of a train in the tunnel.

The agency said the debris connects the train to the overhead power lines and pierced the train when a wire dislodged.

A second train also lost power and hit debris that had fallen onto the tracks.

Both trains were disabled and left roughly 1,000 passengers stranded.

Service was restored with delays by Saturday morning. The cause is being investigated and Amtrak continued repairs throughout the weekend.

As WCBS 880’s Kelly Waldron reported Monday, advocates of the Hudson Tunnel Project said it is one more sign the plan for new tunnels needs to be expedited.

"These are the kinds of incidents unfortunately that happen more and more often with a now 108-year-old one track in, one track out tunnel system," said Steven Sigmund of the Gateway Development Corporation.

While grateful no one was injured in the Friday incident, Sigmund said there is no time to lose in getting the Hudson Tunnel Project completed.



The group has submitted an updated financial plan reaffirming New York and New Jersey’s commitment to fund 100 percent of the $5.5 billion in local money for the tunnel.

He now says the federal government needs to do its part.