Amtrak to Provide Funds, Track Outages for NY Penn Station Access Infrastructure Project
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Amtrak
Amtrak is collaborating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to support the Penn Station Access Project on the Hell Gate Line, creating four new Metro-North stations in the Bronx and allowing Metro-North trains to travel to New York Penn Station.
Amtrak and Metro-North customers can expect to see increased reliability, quicker travel times, and more travel options when the project is completed in 2027. Amtrak is investing $500 million in this project, in addition to providing track access for the construction, a release said.
Amtrak will provide track outages to assist MTA crews and contractors working on Hell Gate Line infrastructure upgrades and restoring the line to a state of good repair.
Amtrak plans to take one track out of service at a time as part of the renovation. Because the Hell Gate Line currently has only two tracks in most places, eliminating one will force northbound and southbound trains to alternate running on a single track on the segment, a release said.
The first stage of the project will take eight months, from March to October 2023. Single-tracking and other construction activities are expected to impact Acela and Northeast Regional service between New York and Boston beginning in the spring of 2023.
The project will allow for faster trips to Manhattan via Metro-North trains and result in a modernized and rehabilitated railroad, a release said.
