Rail commuters across New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area are facing temporary service reductions in early 2026 as major infrastructure upgrades move into a critical phase. The changes are tied to construction work on the new Portal North Bridge, a project designed to improve long-term reliability along the Northeast Corridor. The work involves coordination between NJ Transit and Amtrak and is part of the broader Gateway Program, a multi-year effort to modernize rail infrastructure between New Jersey and New York.

Why Service Is Being Reduced

The temporary reduction is necessary to complete what engineers call a “cutover,” or transfer of train operations from the existing Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge. The existing bridge is more than a century old and requires openings for river traffic, which has historically caused delays. During the cutover period, trains must operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus while crews connect new track, signals, and power systems. This significantly limits how many trains can safely operate at one time. Officials say the short-term  disruption is necessary to deliver long-term benefits such as improved reliability, fewer mechanical failures, and increased capacity on one of the busiest rail corridors in the United States.

Timeline of Service Changes

The main disruption period is expected to run from mid-February through mid-March 2026, where modified schedules are expected from roughly February 15 through about March 15. During this period, some rail service may be reduced by roughly 50%, but regular schedules are expected to resume after safety testing is completed. A second phase of work is planned later in  2026, when the second track of the new bridge is connected, which may cause additional temporary disruptions.

What Riders Can Expect

Commuters may experience a range of service changes during the construction window, including:

• Fewer weekday trains into New York Penn Station

• Some Midtown Direct trains diverted to Hoboken

• Schedule adjustments and longer travel times

• Cross-honoring of tickets on PATH trains, buses, and ferries

These changes are designed to maintain travel options while construction is underway.

How the Changes Affect Key NJ Transit Lines

While the Portal North Bridge cutover affects most rail lines across the system, the impact varies depending on how each line connects to the Northeast Corridor and New York Penn Station. Across all affected lines, riders may notice:

• About a 50% overall service reduction during the main work window

• Earlier or shifted departure times

• Longer travel times and fewer connections

• More crowding on remaining trains and transfer services

• These temporary changes are expected to last roughly four weeks, with service expected to return closer to normal after testing is complete.

Long-Term Benefits

Despite the inconvenience, transportation officials emphasize that the new bridge is expected to significantly improve service reliability. The Portal North Bridge will be a fixed-span structure that eliminates the need to open for boat traffic and reduces mechanical failures that have historically caused delays.

Once both tracks are operational, the bridge is expected to improve capacity and resilience along the Northeast Corridor for decades to come.

The Bottom Line

While commuters will likely face a challenging travel period in early 2026, the service reductions are temporary and tied directly to long-term infrastructure improvements. Transportation agencies say the project represents a major milestone toward modernizing one of the nation’s most heavily used rail networks.

For further information, visit the NJ Transit website. 

Sources

Gothamist — NJ Transit and Amtrak Riders Face Month-Long Disruptions During Portal Bridge Transition 

CBS News New York — Portal Bridge Construction Causes Temporary NJ Transit and Amtrak Service Changes

ABC7 New York — Portal Bridge Cutover to Impact NJ Transit and Amtrak Service for Several Weeks

Travel and Tour World — NJ Transit and Amtrak Announce Temporary Service Reductions During Portal Bridge Construction 

New York Post — NJ Transit and Amtrak Riders Face Major Service Disruptions During Portal Bridge Work