Portal Bridge Cutover

Portal Bridge Cutover: What It Means For You

Click HERE for the latest service and schedule information during the Portal Bridge Cutover work. 

Click HERE for a briefing document about the work and service impacts. 

Click HERE for the NJ TRANSIT Press Release from September 17, 2026.

Overview

Amtrak will be completing a critical series of construction and operational activities to transfer, or “cutover”, the second and final track from the existing Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. This cutover marks another major milestone in the Gateway Program that is essential to advancing long-term reliability and capacity improvements along the Northeast Corridor.

During this work, trains will only be able to operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus, resulting in fewer trains operating into Penn Station New York on weekdays on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). There will be no Midtown Direct service into Penn Station New York on weekdays on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch and the Montclair-Boonton Line. Please see the schedules and information below about your specific rail line.

While this work will ultimately deliver substantial benefits, the cutover process is complex and operationally intensive, requiring temporary but significant changes to rail service. NJ TRANSIT has worked closely with Amtrak and regional partners to develop a customer-focused service plan that prioritizes capacity, continuity, and safety throughout the transition.

Special Portal Cutover Schedules

* NOTE: Busing will operate at Bay Head and Point Pleasant from 10/11 to 10/25 due to Brielle Bridge maintenance. Schedule update coming soon.

Scope of Amtrak Cutover Work

The cutover work involves transferring active rail traffic from one track that crosses the more than 110-year-old Portal Bridge to the newly constructed Portal North Bridge. Key elements of the work include:

• Deactivation of legacy infrastructure associated with the old bridge
• Reconfiguration and activation of new track alignments
• Integration of new signaling, power, and communications systems
• Testing and commissioning of interlockings and safety systems

Due to the interdependent nature of these systems, the work must occur within defined time windows and requires temporary reductions in operational flexibility across the corridor.

Expected Timeline of Amtrak Cutover

Sunday, October 11              New NJ TRANSIT schedules go into effect
Saturday, November 14       Cutover Work completed
Sunday, November 15          Regular NJ TRANSIT schedule resumes, subject to completion of safety testing

Expected Customer Impacts

During the cutover period, NJ TRANSIT customers should expect temporary service impacts.
These impacts will primarily affect rail lines that operate through the Portal Bridge corridor, including services into and out of New York Penn Station. While disruptive in the short term, these impacts are necessary to ensure a safe and successful transition to the new bridge infrastructure.

• Customers who have the ability to work from home should consider doing so to the greatest extent possible during this time period. 
• Customers who must travel are encouraged to check schedules before traveling, allow extra travel time, and please understand that the alternate service options for Midtown Direct customers on the Morristown, Gladstone and Montclair-Boonton Lines being diverted to Hoboken have limited capacity and may experience significant crowding during peak travel periods. 
  • If you must travel, planning your trip before 7am or after 9am on weekday mornings or before 4pm or after 7pm on weekday evenings is highly recommended.

What Customers Should Expect

• Modified train schedules, largely including earlier departures
• Reduced service frequencies on certain segments
• Longer travel times due to operational constraints
• Some train consolidations or cancellations 

Customer Communications & Support
NJ TRANSIT is implementing a comprehensive customer support strategy during the work, including:

• Cross-honoring with PATH (between Hoboken and 33rd St. stations only) and New York Waterway Ferry (between Hoboken and Midtown / W. 39th St. Pier 79 only) with enhanced AM/PM peak ferry service.
• Cross-honoring NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes on NJ TRANSIT bus service
  • For example, customers who normally take the train from Perth Amboy to Penn Station New York may use their rail pass or ticket on a bus from Perth Amboy or Woodbridge to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Customers using their tickets or passes to travel to a destination other than the destination printed on their original ticket will be subject to the appropriate additional fare if applicable.
• Advance notice of service impacts across every available customer communication channel
• Real-time service alerts through digital channels
• Station signage and messaging
• FLEXPASS ticket option on sale (20-trips w/ 15% discount)
• Additional NJ TRANSIT Staff in Hoboken, Secaucus, Penn Station New York (PSNY and other stations)

Support for Midtown Direct Customers

During the Portal Cutover work (10/11-11/14), all Midtown Direct service will be diverted to Hoboken.

NOTE: On Monday, October 12, rail service will operate on the Portal cutover weekday schedule.

MONTHLY PASS CUSTOMERS: For October and November, Midtown Direct customers on Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton line trains traveling to/from Penn Station New York should purchase NJ TRANSIT monthly passes to/from Hoboken (via Newark Broad St.).

These passes will be valid for travel to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) between 10/1-10/10 and 11/15-11/30. Between 10/11-11/14, while the cutover work is being conducted, these passes will be cross-honored for travel from Hoboken to New York on PATH, NY Waterway, and NJ TRANSIT Bus Service.

NOTE: On weekends during the cutover period, Midtown Direct trains on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line will operate directly to/from Penn Station New York. Customers traveling on weekends will have their valid monthly pass to/from Hoboken honored for travel to/from Penn Station New York.

WEEKLY PASS CUSTOMERS: For October and November, Midtown Direct customers on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton line trains traveling to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) should purchase NJ TRANSIT weekly passes to/from Hoboken (via Newark Broad St.).

These passes will be valid for travel to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) between 10/1-10/10 and 11/15-11/30. Between 10/11-11/14, while the cutover work is being conducted, these passes will be cross-honored for travel from Hoboken to New York on PATH, NY Waterway, and NJ TRANSIT Bus Service.

NOTE: On weekends during the cutover period, Midtown Direct trains on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line will operate directly to/from Penn Station New York. Customers traveling on weekends will have their valid weekly pass to/from Hoboken honored for travel to/from Penn Station New York.

FLEXPASS CUSTOMERS: For October and November, Midtown Direct customers on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton line trains traveling to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) should purchase NJ TRANSIT FLEXPASS to/from Hoboken (via Newark Broad St.).

These tickets will be valid for travel to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) between 10/1-10/10 and 11/15-11/30. Between 10/11-11/14, while the cutover work is being conducted, these passes will be cross-honored for travel from Hoboken to New York on PATH, NY Waterway, and NJ TRANSIT Bus Service.

NOTE: On weekends during the cutover period, Midtown Direct trains on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line will operate directly to/from Penn Station New York. Customers traveling on weekends will have their valid FLEXPASS to/from Hoboken honored for travel to/from Penn Station New York.

ONE-WAY TICKET CUSTOMERS: Between 10/1-10/11 and 11/15-11/30, Midtown Direct customers on Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line trains traveling to New York must purchase one-way tickets to/from Penn Station New York. 

Between 10/11-11/14, while the work is being performed, Midtown Direct customers on Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line trains traveling to New York on weekdays should purchase one-way tickets to/from Hoboken. There, they will be cross-honored for travel on:

• PATH (between Hoboken & 33rd St. Stations only)
• NY Waterway ferry service (between Hoboken and Midtown / W. 39th St. Pier 79 only, including connecting service on any of the five NY Waterway bus routes operating from the Midtown ferry terminal.)
• NJ TRANSIT’s 126 bus service between Hoboken and the PABT

Between 10/11-11/14, while the work is being performed, Midtown Direct customers on Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line trains traveling to New York on weekends must purchase one-way tickets to/from Penn Station New York. 

NOTE: On weekends during the cutover period, Midtown Direct trains on the Morristown Line, Gladstone Branch, and Montclair-Boonton Line will operate directly to/from Penn Station New York.

Customers are encouraged to check schedules before traveling, allow extra time, and understand that cross-honored services may experience significant crowding and capacity limitations. Customers should work from home wherever possible and consider alternate travel options for essential trips. If you must travel, riding before 7am or after 9am on weekday mornings or before 4pm or after 7pm on weekday evenings is highly recommended.

Customers traveling to Hoboken with mobility needs should advise their train’s conductor in advance so appropriate accommodations can be made.

By purchasing NJ TRANSIT tickets to/from Hoboken and using PATH or NY Waterway ferry service, customers can realize a savings of up to 25% per trip based on their origin station.

NJ TRANSIT Service Plan: Guiding Principles

NJ TRANSIT developed its service plan around three core principles, balancing customer needs with operational realities during the cutover period.

1. Maximizing Capacity and Seat Availability
2. Maintaining Service on All Rail Lines
3. Upholding the Highest Standards of Safety

Conclusion

The Portal Bridge cutover is a necessary and highly complex undertaking. Through close coordination with Amtrak and a service plan grounded in capacity, continuity, and safety, NJ TRANSIT is working to minimize disruption while positioning the system for long-term improvement.

While we recognize the short-term inconvenience customers will experience is not insignificant, the successful completion of this work will deliver lasting benefits for decades to come.

Click HERE for the latest service and schedule information during the Portal Bridge Cutover work.