If you are commuter, going into NYC is about to get a bit more complicated.
Starting Sunday, February 15, NJ Transit will cut rail service into New York by roughly 50%. The reduction lasts four weeks, ending March 15. Crews need to shut down one of two tracks between Newark and Secaucus to switch rail traffic from the 110-year-old Portal Bridge to its $1.5 billion replacement.
Of the 332 trains that normally use the Northeast Corridor between Newark and New York Penn Station, only about half will run. Every NJ Transit line is affected except the Atlantic City Line.
Construction crews will transfer signals, switches, and overhead wires from the old bridge to the new one during this window. This is the final phase of the bridge replacement project.
Work is scheduled to wrap up by March 14, with regular schedules resuming March 15 — assuming safety testing is complete. NJ Transit has acknowledged that Positive Train Control testing could push the timeline back by a few days.
What Commuters Should Expect
Service Cuts and Delays
Weekday trains into Penn Station New York will be reduced by up to 50%. Travel times will be longer, some trains will be combined or canceled, and crowding will be worse during peak hours.
No Midtown Direct on Weekdays
Midtown Direct service into Penn Station New York is suspended on weekdays. This affects the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line. All Midtown Direct weekday trains will terminate in Hoboken instead.
On weekends, Midtown Direct trains will still operate to and from Penn Station New York as usual.
NJ Transit’s Advice: Adjust Your Routine
NJ Transit is urging riders to work from home if possible. For those who must commute, the agency recommends traveling before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m. in the morning, and before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m. in the evening. Check schedules daily, as adjustments may occur throughout the four-week period.
Getting Into NYC From Hoboken
If your train is diverted to Hoboken, cross-honoring will be in effect on several services, though capacity is limited. Your train ticket or pass will be accepted on:
- PATH between Hoboken and 33rd Street only
- NY Waterway ferries between Hoboken Terminal and West 39th Street (with additional peak-hour service)
- NJ Transit Bus Route 126 to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Expect crowding on all of these options, particularly during rush hours.
Ticket and Pass Changes You Need to Know
Monthly Pass Holders
Midtown Direct riders should purchase passes to and from Hoboken. Those passes will also be valid for New York Penn Station before February 15 and after March 15. During the cutover, the passes will be cross-honored on PATH, ferries, and buses.
One-Way Ticket Riders
On weekdays during the cutover, buy tickets to and from Hoboken. On weekends, buy tickets to and from Penn Station New York. NJ Transit says some riders could save up to 25% per trip by using the Hoboken-to-PATH or ferry route.
Why Is This Happening?
The new $1.5 billion Portal North Bridge is replacing a century-old swing bridge over the Hackensack River on the Northeast Corridor. The final step is connecting the new bridge to the existing rail network, which requires 40,000 man-hours of work according to project engineers.
Amtrak is leading the construction. Prebuilt track panels will be lifted into place to connect with existing track. Crews will work two shifts, seven days a week, averaging 70 to 90 workers per shift. Preparation has been underway for months to keep the actual cutover period as short as possible.
Amtrak President Roger Harris asked for the public’s patience, noting that both NJ Transit and Amtrak riders will be affected.
When Will Things Return to Normal?
Cutover work is scheduled to end March 14. Regular schedules should resume March 15, pending final safety testing. NJ Transit CEO Kevin Kolluri has said that if safety testing requires extra time, the agency will take it — even if that means a short delay beyond the March 15 target.
