NJ Transit locomotive engineers could soon walk off the job, bringing to a halt a rail service used by 350,000 commuters in the event of a work stoppage. As of Thursday morning, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union and NJ Transit representatives were still meeting in negotiations hoping to reach an agreement prior to a potential strike.

Governor Phil Murphy said Wednesday night that he's "hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst" regarding a possible NJ Transit rail strike.

Talks resume on Thursday between NJ Transit and its rail engineers' union to try to reach an agreement to avert a walkout by the union early Friday.

NJ Transit engineers are preparing to walk off the job on Friday, which could affect 350,000 commuters in New Jersey and New York City.

As NJ Transit enters the final hours of negotiations with the workers’ union, the transit agency is warning commuters to prepare for service to end on Friday at midnight. NJ Transit added a notice to its website warning travelers to get to their destinations by 11:59 p.

After voting down a potential agreement, the union that supports NJ Transit workers may go on strike Friday, impacting travel in and around New York City. But, NJ Transit services nearest Philly will remain operational.

If the engineers do walk off the job, the agency plans to increase bus service, saying it would add “very limited” capacity to existing New York commuter bus routes in close proximity to rail stations and will contract with private carriers to operate bus service from key regional park-and-ride locations during weekday peak periods.

NJ Transit and an engineers’ union appear to be steaming ahead to the first major rail strike in decades starting early Friday, even as both sides convene in Washington, D.C., where they pledged to continue negotiations.