New Jersey Transit rail commuters should brace for major disruptions into New York.
Starting Feb. 15, NJ Transit and Amtrak will slash train service by more than 50% for four weeks. That’s to connect the long-awaited $2.3 billion Portal North Bridge to the Northeast Corridor, the nation’s busiest passenger rail route.
The disruptions will affect more than 600 daily trains at the chokepoint between Newark and Secaucus that funnels commuters into Penn Station in Manhattan.
Officials say the suspensions are unavoidable. Crews will work around the clock to shift one track to the new fixed-span bridge, which unlike the 115-year-old swing span won’t open for Hackensack River marine traffic. The old bridge, infamous for getting stuck, was one of the most vexing sources of Northeast Corridor jams.
Transit leaders say it’s short-term pain for long-term reliability — but they’re also urging commuters to check revised schedules. More disruptions are planned for next year, when the second track is connected.
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