Beginning Feb. 15, Amtrak will start a month-long “cutover” project to transfer train traffic from the existing Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River in Kearny. The work is scheduled to continue through March 14, with regular NJ Transit schedules expected to resume March 15, pending completion of safety testing and Federal Railroad Administration inspections.
The process involves moving one track from the old bridge to the new structure. A second cutover of the remaining track is scheduled for October.
- From Feb. 15 to March 14, NJ Transit will cut 332 trains — a 53% reduction — and operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus, while Amtrak sidelines or adjusts more than 280 trains.
- Weekday Midtown Direct service to Penn Station New York will be suspended, with trains diverted to Hoboken and riders transferring to PATH (Hoboken–33rd Street), NY Waterway ferries, or NJ Transit’s 126 bus.
- Special ticket rules apply Feb. 15–March 15, including Hoboken monthly passes with cross-honoring, weekday Hoboken one-way purchases, weekend Penn Station tickets, and a revived 20-ride FLEXPASS offering a 15% discount valid for 30 days.
Why the Portal Bridge Is Being Replaced
The existing Portal Bridge was built in 1910 and is between 112 and 116 years old. It is a swing bridge that opens for marine traffic on the Hackensack River. When it opens, it has frequently failed to close properly. Workers have at times used a sledgehammer to strike the locking mechanism back into place.
The bridge has experienced mechanical problems, signal issues, and even a fire. During a 2022 groundbreaking event for its replacement, then-New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the bridge becomes stuck one out of every seven times it swings open.
Because NJ Transit and Amtrak share tracks north of Trenton, problems at the bridge have repeatedly halted service along the Northeast Corridor, affecting trains traveling into and out of New York Penn Station.
The replacement, the $2.3 billion Portal North Bridge, is a fixed-span bridge that will not open for river traffic. The project is part of the Gateway Program. NJ Transit officials said the cutover work is fully funded and unaffected by the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze Gateway Program funding.
What the Cutover Work Includes
The cutover requires:
- Deactivating infrastructure associated with the old bridge
- Reconfiguring and activating new track alignments
- Installing new signaling, power, and communications systems
- Building two new interlockings
- Connecting 2.5 miles of new railroad to existing infrastructure
- Laying 4,500 feet of new track
- Testing interlocking and safety systems
- Completing Federal Railroad Administration inspections
Amtrak expects the work to require about 40,000 hours of labor. Crews will work in two daily shifts of approximately 70 to 90 workers, operating simultaneously on both sides of the bridge.
Amtrak officials said performing the work only on nights and weekends was ruled out due to the complexity of the project, safety considerations, and the need to avoid construction overruns interfering with Monday morning rush hour.
Service Reductions Across NJ Transit and Amtrak
During the 30-day construction period, weekday trains will operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus. This will limit the number of trains that can reach Penn Station New York.
NJ Transit will reduce rail service by 53%, cutting 332 trains from its schedule. CEO Kris Kolluri said, “Starting this weekend and for the next four weeks, Amtrak is going to carry out this extraordinarily complex job. It will be tough; we are going to go from 48 trains an hour to 18 trains an hour.”
Due to construction work on Portal Bridge and changes to NJ TRANSIT service, PATH customers at Hoboken should expect higher passenger volumes Mon 2/16–Fri 3/13. Please work remotely or avoid travel from 7-10 am, if possible. All Midtown Direct service will be diverted to Hoboken.… pic.twitter.com/Ltr17FcvGp
— PATH Train (@PATHTrain) February 11, 2026
Seven North and Central Jersey rail lines will see schedule changes, canceled trains, combined trains, earlier departure times, and longer travel times. The Atlantic City Line will not be affected.
Amtrak will sideline or adjust more than 280 trains during the Feb. 15 to March 15 cutover period. Riders on the Acela, Northeast Regional, and Keystone lines will see reductions in service. Several weekday trains normally used by commuters have been removed from the schedule. Customers can call 800-USA-RAIL or use the chat function at Amtrak.com to transfer tickets for trains that are no longer operating.
Midtown Direct Diversions to Hoboken
Midtown Direct weekday service into Penn Station New York will be suspended on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line. All Midtown Direct trains on weekdays during the cutover will be diverted to Hoboken.
From Hoboken, riders will be cross-honored on:
- PATH trains between Hoboken and 33rd Street only
- NY Waterway ferry service between Hoboken and Midtown/W. 39th Street, including connecting service on five NY Waterway bus routes operating from the Midtown ferry terminal
- NJ Transit’s 126 bus between Hoboken and the Port Authority Bus Terminal
PATH will increase service by more than 30% on the Hoboken–33rd Street line starting Tuesday, according to Seth Stein, a Port Authority spokesperson. PATH officials warned that Hoboken station may experience crowding that could extend to Newark-Penn Station, Exchange Place, Newport, Grove Street, and 33rd Street in Manhattan. Additional PATH customer service staff and Port Authority police officers will be deployed to manage passenger volumes.
NY Waterway will operate enhanced morning and evening rush ferry service to and from Midtown Manhattan.
Rush Hour Travel Advisories
NJ Transit and Amtrak are advising commuters to limit travel during peak weekday hours. Riders are encouraged to avoid travel between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., with some advisories extending to 10 a.m., and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Officials recommend working from home if possible. If travel is necessary, riders are advised to depart before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m. in the morning and before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m. in the evening. Cross-honored services may experience crowding and capacity limitations.
The first weekday test of the revised schedules will occur on Tuesday following the Presidents Day holiday.
Monthly Pass and One-Way Ticket Rules
For February and March, Midtown Direct customers on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line traveling to or from Penn Station New York should purchase NJ Transit monthly passes to or from Hoboken via Newark Broad Street.
These monthly passes:
- Are valid for travel to or from Penn Station New York between Feb. 1 and Feb. 15 and between March 15 and March 31
- Will be cross-honored between Feb. 15 and March 15 on PATH, NY Waterway, and NJ Transit’s 126 bus
One-way ticket rules differ by date:
- Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 15 and between March 15 and March 31, customers must purchase one-way tickets to or from Penn Station New York.
- Between Feb. 15 and March 15 on weekdays, customers must purchase one-way tickets to or from Hoboken and use cross-honored connections.
- Between Feb. 15 and March 15 on weekends, customers must purchase one-way tickets to or from Penn Station New York.
By purchasing NJ Transit tickets to or from Hoboken and transferring to PATH or NY Waterway ferry service, customers can save up to 25% per trip, depending on their origin station.
FLEXPASS Option
NJ Transit is reviving its FLEXPASS beginning Sunday. The 20-ride ticket offers a 15% discount and is valid for 30 days after purchase. Midtown Direct commuters are advised to purchase a FLEXPASS with Hoboken as the destination and use the rides between Feb. 15 and March 15, as unused trips expire at the end of the 30-day validity period.
Communication and Customer Support
NJ Transit has issued app pop-up messages and digital alerts about the cutover. The agency will provide real-time service updates on its digital channels and recommends riders sign up for text alerts. Customer service ambassadors will be deployed at Hoboken and Secaucus Junction to assist passengers during the construction period.
Amtrak President Roger Harris said last month, “In just a few short weeks, we will reward the patience of Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT customers by helping eliminate a cause of long delays and unreliable commutes.”
