$300M Upgrades to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT Follow Year of Widespread Service Disruptions

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, in collaboration with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, announced significant improvements to infrastructure and service reliability on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The updates follow a joint action plan implemented after widespread service disruptions earlier this year.

The agencies released a new progress report, highlighting the completion of major inspections and short-term repairs while securing nearly $300 million in federal funding for modernization projects.

“This summer, I brought Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT together to address unacceptably long, disruptive rail delays on NJ TRANSIT that were a consistent problem in the spring and early summer,” said Governor Murphy. “With today’s meeting, we are proud to announce that Amtrak has now completed its inspection of all 240 miles of catenary overhead wire systems between Trenton and New York City. And while the fundamental challenge facing our mass transit system continues to be aging infrastructure, we believe that these completed repairs, and the infrastructure investments to come, will make sure New Jerseyans have an easier time getting where they need to go when they need to get there."

Key Improvements Over the Past Five Months:

1. Comprehensive Inspections:
   • 240 Track Miles Inspected: Amtrak completed catenary system inspections between Trenton and New York City, replacing approximately 2,000 hardware components.
   • Helicopter Inspections: Overhead catenary systems between Trenton and the North River Tunnel were photographed, resulting in 839 hardware replacements.
   • High-Tech Monitoring: Amtrak conducted photo inspections of tunnels and tracks near New York Penn Station, while NJ TRANSIT used high-definition video to document locomotive-wire interactions.
2. Maintenance and Repairs:
   • Catenary and Wire Upgrades: Amtrak replaced critical electric traction components and overhead wires to improve reliability.
   • NJ TRANSIT Inspections: Completed hands-on reviews of 82 miles of overhead catenary systems on its lines.

“Our partnership with NJ TRANSIT and joint commitment to Governor Murphy to ensure that our collective customers have safe and reliable train service is achieving results,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT will continue to conduct inspections, make short-term repairs and seek more funding to fully modernize all aspects of our infrastructure over the long term, including our electric traction system, catenary, signals, switches and more."

Federal Funding Secured for Long-Term Projects:

Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT also announced the allocation of nearly $300 million in federal grants to modernize critical rail infrastructure:

• Sawtooth Bridges Replacement ($187.5 million): Design and preconstruction work for replacing the 115-year-old bridges in Kearny, along with track, signal, and catenary updates.
• Substation 41 Renewal ($80.2 million): Construction of a flood-resistant substation in Kearny to bolster the NEC’s electric traction system.
• Signal System Upgrades ($18.6 million): Modernization of the signal system between New Brunswick and Elizabeth to increase train speeds and throughput.
• Catenary System Overhaul ($13.4 million): Design and environmental review for replacing 90-year-old catenary structures between New Brunswick and Newark.

“While we are pleased with the progress that has improved reliability for tens of thousands of NJ TRANSIT rail customers, our joint efforts will continue,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “It’s essential that we sustain the same level of attention we have demonstrated over the past five months. In addition to the work we are doing to add fiberglass protectors on our pantographs to protect them from impact damage on the NEC catenary, NJ TRANSIT will continue to support Amtrak’s efforts to accelerate the work to upgrade the most vulnerable infrastructure along the NEC."

Background and Future Plans:

The updates come after a June 27 public meeting convened by Governor Murphy to address persistent service disruptions. The joint action plan by Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT has already resulted in improved service reliability, with disruptions declining significantly over recent months.

Community stakeholders can expect further upgrades as modernization projects progress. The Sawtooth Bridges replacement and signal improvements are anticipated to significantly enhance travel efficiency on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors.

For more information on ongoing projects, visit the Amtrak NEC Modernization Program or NJ TRANSIT’s updates at njtransit.com.

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