NJ Transit, Amtrak commuters face changes for next month due to Portal Bridge cutover
The Portal Bridge cutover means service disruptions for NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters over the next 4 weeks.
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Transit commuters could be facing delays and cancellations for the next month due to work that is now underway on the Portal Bridge.
Day two of major rail service changes for NJ Transit riders went better than Sunday morning, when 27 trains were canceled.
NJ Transit commuters were initially informed Monday morning that two trains were canceled "due to originally scheduled engineer availability at time of departure resulting from portal cutover schedule." But then engineers were found for the trains and they were able to run.
Officials with NJ Transit issued an apology to riders Sunday morning after canceling 27 trains, citing engineer staffing "under their collective bargaining agreement" that gives them 48 hours "to select their new assignments."
NJ Transit called it a "temporary transition issue."
The big test will arrive on Tuesday, when some rail lines are diverted to Hoboken for the start of the portal cutover weekday schedule.
"Hoboken's PATH station is expected to be the busiest location for Manhattan-bound riders during peak hours, as NJ TRANSIT's Midtown Direct rail service will temporarily operate to Hoboken instead of New York-Penn Station," officials warned.
It all comes as Amtrak started the first stage to transfer rail service from the century-old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River.
The work began Sunday and will continue through March 13; all rail lines except the Atlantic City Rail Line will undergo temporary service adjustments.
"The Portal Bridge has been a nemesis and a nightmare for decades for riders on the northeast Corridor," NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said. "In the end there will be a brand new bridge for the first time in 116 years."
With the installation of this new bridge, getting home will be easier, according to Kolluri, who says the bridge is even more critical to the corridor than the new tunnels.
The arches of the new replacement bridge are already in place over the Hackensack River. It's higher and won't have to open.
Modified train schedules, along with some consolidations or cancellations, should be expected.
New Jersey Transit is asking riders for patience while it reduces service from 48 to 18 trains per hour. Trains will have added capacity. But they'll have to make more stops.
The new Portal North Bridge is expected to improve reliability and fewer bridge-related delays and increase operational resilience along the Northeast Corridor.
Once both tracks are in service on the new bridge, the original bridge will be permanently removed from service and the new bridge will accommodate all traffic.
Service changes to know:
Weekday Midtown Direct trains on the Morris & Essex (M&E), Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line will be diverted to Hoboken. Weekend Midtown Direct trains will operate to/from NY Penn Station.
Midtown Direct customers on the M&E, Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line should purchase tickets/passes with a destination of Hoboken in lieu of New York.
For Midtown Direct customers with Hoboken as a destination on their tickets/passes, the following options will be available for travel between Hoboken and Midtown Manhattan:
For more information, visit NJTransit.com and Amtrak.com.
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