Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT will invest $31 million into railroad infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), under a partnership expected to extend throughout the year.
The plan will start at the north end of the NEC and head south. Station by station and line by line, workers will replace deteriorating block ties at Newark Penn Station with concrete ties, timber deck on the aging Portal Bridge, as well as timber and switches at Trenton’s Fair Interlocking — including an all-electric upgrade for the switches. The companies will also make upgrades to the system’s overhead wire, adapting it for the Acela fleet which should enter service in 2021. Old equipment will be stripped and new equipment installed, which will allow for greater speeds and reliability.
“We are proud to continue our strong and cooperative relationship with NJ TRANSIT,” Tony Coscia, Amtrak Chairman of the Board, said. “Together, we are improving our shared infrastructure, the safety of the railroad, and our customer experience through projects of every size, from basic track work up to the Gateway Program. Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to investment in infrastructure would not be possible without Governor Murphy’s support, as he shares our dedication to improving the overall customer experience.”
These latest efforts build on existing partnerships between NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak.
“As I stated back in February alongside Tony Coscia, our partnership with Amtrak is critical to restoring and renewing the infrastructure along the NEC, moving critical NJ TRANSIT capital projects forward like the new Elizabeth Station and expanding our presence in Penn Station New York – all with an eye toward improving the customer experience,” NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett said.