NJ Transit and Amtrak implement five-week rail schedule changes

NJ Transit and Amtrak are implementing significant rail service adjustments over a five-week period to facilitate the final phase of the Portal North Bridge construction. This $2.3 billion project involves transitioning tracks from the century-old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River to eliminate long-standing transit bottlenecks.

Starting October 11, most NJ Transit lines—excluding the Atlantic City Rail Line—will experience schedule changes, cancellations, and station modifications. On weekdays, Midtown Direct trains on the Morris & Essex, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton lines will be diverted from New York Penn Station to Hoboken. During this time, passengers traveling to Manhattan must transfer to PATH trains, NY Waterway ferries, or NJ Transit buses.

Additionally, maintenance work on the North Jersey Coast, Port Jervis, and Raritan Valley lines may require shuttle bus transfers. Amtrak is also conducting maintenance on eight tracks along the Northeast Corridor. Regular service is expected to resume on Sunday, November 15, following the completion of construction and safety testing.