Temp. Disruptions as Portal North Enters Final Phase

by Sean Jeans-Gail | VP of Gov't Affairs

--

After almost twenty years of planning, false starts, funding delays, and construction, work on addressing the “Achilles’ heel of the Northeast Corridor” is almost complete.

Starting October 11th, Northeast Corridor (NEC) passengers will see five weeks of schedule adjustments beginning in October as Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT complete the final “cutover” from the century-old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River.

Passengers can find the adjusted schedules, as well as links to alternate public transportation options by rail line, at njtransit.com/portalcutover.

Work is scheduled to start on October 9th, when workers will begin transferring tracks, catenary, and electrical systems to the new high-level, fixed span bridge. This will allow a full operational shift off of the 116-year-old movable span, a move that will save Amtrak (and taxpayers) millions of dollars a year in annual maintenance costs. During the construction period, both agencies will operate modified schedules while maintaining service on all rail lines.

This temporary service change—while undeniably a headache for commuters—will be a significant step toward a more reliable NEC. The new fixed-span bridge will eliminate many of the mechanical failures and maritime openings that have long caused delays across the entire span of the NEC. It will also support higher train speeds, increased capacity, and improved on-time performance for both intercity and commuter passengers.

Amtrak will also take advantage of the reduced traffic period to complete eight additional maintenance projects across the corridor. Regular schedules are expected to resume in mid-November following safety testing. The bridge project remains on schedule and on budget, marking a major milestone in the broader Gateway Program and the effort to modernize one of the nation's busiest passenger rail corridors.

“As we enter this second and final Cutover for Portal North Bridge, we’re building on the success of the first one, to deliver tangible results and benefits to New Jersey visitors and residents,” said Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann. “After the success of the first Cutover, we followed that up with outstanding service during the World Cup, and we are going to conclude the third major event for us this year on a high note with the second Cutover the same way by proving what this joint team can accomplish when we work together.”

“Five weeks of adjusted schedules will deliver a modern, high-level bridge that ends a century of swing-bridge delays for customers traveling the Northeast Corridor to and from New York,” added NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “We worked closely with Amtrak on a service plan that maximizes capacity and keeps every rail line running, and we thank our customers for their patience as we complete the final step of this long-awaited project.”

For those interested in learning more about the project, the briefing Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT delivered to the press is available for review.