New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is halting payments to Amtrak following a second derailment at New York City's Penn Station that is causing headaches for commuters in the nation's busiest rail hub.
In a letter to Amtrak's chairman published Thursday in The New York Times, Christie said he directed New Jersey Transit to withhold funds until an independent inspection verifies Amtrak's Northeast Corridor is in a state of good repair.
The governor also says he has asked the attorney general to consider filing a lawsuit to recover money that NJ Transit pays to use the rail line.
NJ Transit paid Amtrak $62 million last year for maintenance and upgrades.
Amtrak says it hopes to have full rail service restored by Friday as it repairs damage caused by Monday's derailment.
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