An NJ Transit train traveling from Atlantic City to Philadelphia fatally struck a pedestrian near a railroad crossing on Pinelawn Avenue in Lindenwold around 11:07 a.m. Tuesday, forcing the transit agency to suspend rail service between the Atco and Cherry Hill stations and leaving 120 passengers and crew members aboard the train, though none of them were injured.
The crossing sits about one mile from the Lindenwold train station off the White Horse Pike, according to NJ.com, which first reported the strike. The identity of the pedestrian killed had not been immediately disclosed, per the outlet's report by journalist Eric Conklin. As reported by the Daily Voice, the train involved was Atlantic City Rail Line train No. 4620, which had departed Atlantic City at 10:12 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station at 11:52 a.m. before the fatal impact.
With the line shut down between Atco and Cherry Hill, NJ Transit activated emergency alternatives to keep shore-bound and Philadelphia-bound riders moving. The agency honored rail tickets on bus service between the Atco and Cherry Hill stations, and PATCO accepted NJ Transit tickets as well, allowing stranded commuters to reach Philadelphia despite the closure. Such cross-honoring arrangements are a standard regional tool that lets NJ Transit activate agreements with PATCO and local bus routes during emergency police investigations, per CBS News.
A Major Transfer Hub Sits Just a Mile Away
Lindenwold Station functions as a major South Jersey intermodal transit hub, connecting the Atlantic City Line with the PATCO Speedline, which operates between Lindenwold and Philadelphia. The station serves as PATCO's eastern terminus, averaging 2,079 weekday riders there in 2025, according to Wikipedia. The Atlantic City Line had an average of 1,600 daily passenger trips, according to a June 2025 study by the Regional Plan Association.
For riders displaced by the closure, NJ Transit Bus Route 554 offers a parallel option along the White Horse Pike corridor, providing emergency replacement service connecting Lindenwold Station, Atco, and Atlantic City whenever rail service is suspended, according to NJ Transit.
Trespassing Deaths Remain a Persistent Problem
The Lindenwold strike adds to a grim national pattern. Preliminary 2025 Federal Railroad Administration statistics compiled by Operation Lifesaver show that 1,317 pedestrian rail trespass casualties occurred across the United States in 2025, including 793 deaths.
The Association of American Railroads reported that the overall U.S. train accident rate fell 15% year-over-year in 2024. Pedestrian fatalities and trespassing on NJ Transit tracks are also part of the rail-safety discussion.
Other recent fatal incidents on South Jersey rail lines have also drawn attention.
It remains unclear why the pedestrian was on the tracks near the Pinelawn Avenue crossing Tuesday, or whether the crossing gates and warning signals were active at the moment of impact. NJ Transit has not released further details on the investigation into Tuesday's fatal strike.
