NJ Transit and Amtrak are set to reduce train service from October 11 through November 14 as they undertake the task of moving a track from the century-old Portal Bridge in Kearny to the new Portal North Bridge in Secaucus. This service reduction is part of the ongoing Gateway Program, aimed at improving rail service to New York, with regular service expected to resume on Monday, November 15. This marks the second such service disruption, following a similar event in February when the first track was moved.
Weekday NJ Transit commuters bound for New York City will be significantly impacted, requiring them to transfer to a bus, ferry, or PATH train in Hoboken to complete their journeys. Officials noted that the overall system-wide reduction in rides will be about 10%, which is less severe than the February disruptions. Despite the inconvenience, the project is intended to resolve frequent delays caused by the old Portal Bridge, which will be decommissioned in the fall and demolished in January.
The service changes will also affect Amtrak, particularly the Keystone Service between Philadelphia and New York, which will see a reduction from 24 weekday trains to 10 during the cutover period. Commuters on lines such as the Morris and Essex, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton will need to purchase tickets to Hoboken during weekdays. NJ Transit officials have indicated that affected riders will receive a discount on their tickets and have encouraged remote work during the disruption, though officials said in February that employers had largely unheeded such a request for the previous phase of the project.
The Portal Bridge replacement project is a critical infrastructure upgrade. The old bridge, frequently cited as a major bottleneck in the Northeast Corridor, was prone to malfunctions, leading to significant delays. The new Portal North Bridge is designed to serve customers for at least 100 years, offering a long-term solution to these issues. During the February cutover, Hoboken Terminal experienced an influx of over 18,000 additional commuters in both morning and evening rush hours.
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri described the corridor as the "craziest in the Western Hemisphere," emphasizing the complexity of making these changes while trains are still operating. The work in February saw a 53% reduction in NJ Transit rail service and involved the cutover of one track to the new $2.3 billion Portal North Bridge. Commuters faced significant disruptions, with Midtown Direct trains diverted to Hoboken and increased crowding on PATH and ferry services. For the current phase, NJ Transit advises Morris & Essex, Gladstone, and Montclair-Boonton Line commuters to buy monthly passes to Hoboken via Newark Broad Street, which will be cross-honored on PATH, NY Waterway ferry, and NJ Transit's 126 bus, potentially offering a 25% per trip discount. A FlexPass, a 20-ride ticket with a 15% discount, will also be available.
