Steer on tracks delays NJ Transit service between NYC and Newark

A steer got onto the tracks at Newark Penn Station on Thursday morning, causing significant delays on NJ Transit and PATH trains between New Jersey and New York City.

The steer was no longer on the tracks as of shortly after noon, according to NJ Transit, but service was still delayed for up to 45 minutes between Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station in Manhattan.

It was not immediately clear how the steer ended up on the tracks, but the transit authority shared a photo of it on X, formerly Twitter:

NJ Transit said rail tickets and passes were being cross-honored by PATH at the Hoboken, Newark Penn and 33rd Street stations.

The Newark Public Safety Department said police responded to Frelinghuysen Avenue near Victoria Street, near Newark Liberty International Airport, around 10:46 a.m., following up on a call that a steer was on the loose behind a building.

Members of the department's emergency services unit and Port Authority police then found the steer and contained it "inside a fenced lot without incident," according to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé.

Newark police said the steer would be retrieved and safeguarded by a local animal sanctuary, but did not specify which one.

PATH service between the Newark and World Trade Center stations had resumed with residual delays by late morning, the commuter rail line said.

No bull: After taking stock of available information, we found that Ricardo, the escaped animal, is actually a steer, or castrated bull. This post has been updated to steer our readers in the right direction.

This story has been updated with new information. Brittany Kriegstein contributed reporting.