NJ Transit refund? Delays could get you paid if this bill passes

It's the dirty word that can ruin any NJ Transit commuter's plans, hopes and dreams for the day: "Delayed." 

Over the last two years, lengthy train delays have become routine for railroad commuters, especially with ongoing construction at New York Penn Station.

"How much time will you steal from people until we get a refund?," one Twitter user wrote to NJ Transit. 

According to one bill introduced in the Legislature, it's 60 minutes. 

The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Rob Clifton, R-Monmouth, would require NJ Transit to issue a free replacement ticket to any customer whose train arrives at its destination more than an hour late.

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The law would only cover delays due to "mechanical failure" and customers would have to provide proof of purchase. 

Clifton did not return calls seeking comment on the potential legislation, but experts are skeptical. 

"It's hard to grasp," said Martin Robins, a former NJ Transit deputy executive director and director emeritus of the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. "It's a very unfortunate time for NJ Transit but I don't know if this is the answer." 

The issue is twofold, Robins said: First, how does a passenger prove they were on a delayed train? A one-way NJ Transit ticket is good for any journey between the two stations selected, without a time restriction — and most daily commuters purchase monthly passes that are good for any trains.

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But most importantly, any sort of reimbursement program could financially ruin the company. 

According to one commuter who logs all of NJ Transit's train delays, a "mechanical problem" has been the cause of 156 delays over the last month.

And according to NJ Transit's own statistics from June 2017, about 13 percent of trains over the last month were at least six minutes late.

"If the Legislature really wanted to impact the lives of commuters, they'd find a way to appropriate more money to keep infrastructure in good repair," said Len Resto, president of the New Jersey Association of Rail Passengers. "Then, delays would be greatly reduced."

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Commuter rail and subway train line refunds are rare in the United States. In February, SEPTA ended its policy of issuing refunds on Philadelphia trains delayed more than 15 minutes on weekdays. 

The MBTA ended its refund program to Boston commuters in 2011, estimating a $1 million cost savings. 

In the United Kingdom, the practice is commonplace: London commuters are reimbursed after delays on the "Tube" longer than 15 minutes. Laws require national railroads to refund their customers at least 50 percent of their ticket if a train is delayed by more than an hour. 

"People would be absolutely thrilled to get their money's worth but, as a practical matter, it's not workable here," Resto said. "It's a political gimmick to make themselves look good to the traveling public."

An NJ Transit spokeswoman declined to comment.

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com