Why the overhead wires powering NJ Transit, Amtrak trains keep breaking

[Vogon_Glory]

3. The overhead catenary is very old

I believe that much of that overhead wire dates back to the 1930’s, when the Pennsylvania Railroad electrified its NYC to Washington, DC mainline. Eighty plus years have passed and a lot of it has worn out, just as much of the former New Haven’s NYC to New Haven, CT wore out earlier and had to be replaced.

Of course this requires spending money on infrastructure, something the irresponsible (Banana) Republican Party is loathe to do. Ask Chris Christie. When presented with a chance to increase train capacity between New York and New Jersey because it meant raising taxes (Another Republican Party tabu).

The Republicans as a group have forgotten something every homeowner and car owner learns: if you have something, you occasionally have to shell out to fix it up.