With a potential NJ Transit train strike coming as early as May 16, the agency’s head gave no indication Tuesday that management and the agency’s union are any closer to a deal — claiming train engineers are now asking for even higher salaries than the ones NJ Transit has balked at agreeing to for months.

Private bus operator Boxcar Inc. aims to ramp up service as a potential New Jersey Transit rail workers strike threatens to strand commuters as early as May 16.Boxcar, which currently shuttles about 2,