Amtrak reopens East River Tunnel Line 2 following major rehabilitation

Amtrak has reopened Line 2 of the East River Tunnel in New York, completing the first phase of a $1.6 billion rehabilitation project. This work aims to improve the safety and reliability of one of the busiest rail tunnels serving the Northeast Corridor.

The reopening restores train service through the tunnel following a year of construction. The work involved the reconstruction of track, power, communications, drainage and structural systems within the 116-year-old tunnel.

East River Tunnel opened in 1910 and consists of four tubes carrying Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and NJ TRANSIT services. Around 450 Amtrak and commuter trains use the tunnels each day. Two of the four tubes required extensive rehabilitation after being damaged by floodwater during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Saltwater entered the tunnels and caused deterioration to infrastructure and electrical systems.

During the first phase, construction teams removed and replaced more than 24,000 feet of rail, 8,000 tons of ballast and 8,000 wooden rail ties. The project also included the removal and replacement of around 20,000 cubic yards of bench wall concrete. New bench walls have been installed to provide improved access for maintenance activities and support the tunnel’s infrastructure. Other work included the replacement and renewal of power, communications and drainage systems, as well as structural improvements. Amtrak also carried out infrastructure hardening measures to reduce the risk of failures affecting rail operations.

By keeping three of the four East River Tunnel tubes available during construction, Amtrak, LIRR and NJ TRANSIT services were able to continue operating while Line 2 was closed. Amtrak used additional measures to manage the impact of the closure, including continuous engineering coverage, more frequent inspections where track access allowed and strategically positioned rescue equipment.

The second phase will involve the rehabilitation of Line 1 and is scheduled to begin this autumn. It will follow a similar scope of reconstruction work to Line 2, with additional hardening measures planned before construction starts.

The overall East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project has a budget of $1.6 billion and remains scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. The project is funded primarily through a federal grant administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), alongside contributions from Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and NJ TRANSIT.

The project is being delivered alongside other major rail investments in the New York and New Jersey region. Earlier this year, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak opened the first track across the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny, New Jersey. Other projects under way include the Hudson Tunnel Project, Penn Station Access and the New York Penn Station Transformation Project.

Source: Amtrak