Amtrak Completes First Phase of East River Tunnel Rehabilitation, Restores Line 2 Service
Amtrak has successfully completed the first major phase of the East River Tunnel (ERT) Rehabilitation Project, officially reopening Line 2 of the tunnel. This milestone marks the restoration of a vital transportation link for hundreds of thousands of daily Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and NJ TRANSIT passengers. Over the past year, crews undertook extensive modernization work, completely reconstructing the 116-year-old tunnel's interior systems, including track, power, communications, drainage, and structural elements. This involved the demolition, removal, and replacement of significantly deteriorated infrastructure, such as 24,000 feet of rail, 8,000 tons of ballast, 8,000 wooden rail ties, and 20,000 cubic yards of bench wall concrete. The project also incorporated the construction of new bench walls designed to improve safety, maintenance access, and operational performance. The $1.6 billion project remains within budget and is on track for completion by the end of 2027. 
