Portal North Bridge service cuts hit Amtrak and NJ Transit

Portal North Bridge service cuts will reshape rail schedules in New Jersey and New York starting February 15, when NJ Transit and Amtrak reduce service by 53% for four weeks.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The temporary pullback supports the Portal Bridge transition needed to connect the new Portal North Bridge to the Northeast Corridor Line, as outlined on the NJ TRANSIT Portal Bridge Cutover page.

NJ Transit train service reduction 53% and commuter changes

NJ Transit and Amtrak say the four-week transition is required for infrastructure work and testing, with schedule changes affecting five rail lines. Altogether, the reduction includes 280 Amtrak trains and 332 NJ Transit trains. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said regular service is expected to resume by March 15, while pointing to mitigation strategies during the transition.

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On NJ Transit, the Northeast Corridor is reduced from 133 trains to 112. The North Jersey Coast Line is reduced from 109 trains to 92. The Morris & Essex Line drops from 149 trains to 141, and the Montclair-Boonton Line is trimmed from 64 trains to 60.

Weekday Mid-Town Direct operations are also set to change. Mid-Town Direct service will operate to Hoboken instead of New York, and NJ Transit says Hoboken commuters’ tickets will be cross-honored on PATH, NJ Transit bus No. 126, and New York Waterway ferries.

Amtrak service reductions on the Northeast Corridor

Amtrak’s schedule will be scaled back during the same period, affecting several Northeast Corridor offerings. Weekday Acela service is set to move from 20 trains to 18, and Northeast Regional service is reduced from 44 weekday trains to 40.

The Keystone Service sees the biggest cut in the plan, dropping from 24 weekday trains to 10. A proposal to concentrate the work on weekends or overnight was dismissed due to safety concerns. Amtrak described the cutover work and the need for temporary service changes in its Portal North Bridge project update.

Gateway Project Portal North Bridge work and timeline

The Portal North Bridge is part of the larger Gateway Project and is intended to replace the older Portal Bridge, which has frequently malfunctioned. Construction began in August 2022, and the bridge is projected to be completed by 2027, a timeline also referenced in Railway Supply’s Northeast Corridor modernization overview.

During the transition window, crews will take on a mix of track and systems tasks tied to the new connection. That includes installing assembled track panels, removing catenary poles that obstruct new tracks, and connecting electric catenary wires while installing signal systems.

The existing Portal Bridge remains a critical chokepoint for rail traffic, with hundreds of trains using it daily. The new bridge design is intended to eliminate the need for bridge openings, which have historically triggered delays on the corridor.

Another disruption expected in 2026

NJ Transit and Amtrak expect a similar service disruption in late summer or early fall 2026. That future closure would support connecting a second track to the Northeast Corridor, with the stated goal of improving rail service and helping advance other needed upgrades during the transition period.

As the Portal North Bridge moves toward completion, Regional Plan Association leaders, including Tom Wright, have said they hope the temporary reduction in service becomes a catalyst for broader rail infrastructure enhancements across the region.

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