Amtrak announced it will start cutover work Feb. 13, 2026, moving one track from the Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge, which will lead to a multi-week reduction in service.
According to Amtrak, the Portal North Bridge project will enter its final construction phase as they begin the critical “cutover” process. This shift will transfer rail service from the 115-year-old Portal Bridge to the new span over the Hackensack River. Although this transition will temporarily reduce Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT service across New Jersey and the Northeast Corridor, trains will continue operating throughout the day. The modern fixed-span bridge aims to eliminate delays, enabling safer and faster trips, marking a significant milestone in the Gateway Program’s transformation of Northeast Corridor rail.
In fiscal year 2025, Amtrak operated an average of approximately 106 intercity trains per day on 11 permanent routes serving New Jersey. This generated over two million total passenger boardings and alightings. Service included Northeast Corridor Acela and Northeast Regional trains, along with multiple state-supported and long-distance routes. Amtrak made scheduled stops at six stations in New Jersey and owned most of the Northeast Corridor infrastructure within the state. During this period, Amtrak paid $301.2 million to New Jersey vendors and $224.9 million in wages to employees residing there.
Amtrak concluded Fiscal Year 2025 with record results, delivering a historic 34.5 million customer trips and $2.7 billion in adjusted ticket revenue—the highest in its history—marking its second consecutive year of record ridership and revenue. The company paired growth with improvements in reliability, on-time performance, onboard amenities, and digital services while expanding capacity by 4.3% despite an aging fleet. Major investments included NextGen Acela, new regional services like Mardi Gras and Borealis, and a record $5.5 billion in capital spending aimed at achieving operational profitability by FY28.
Amtrak was established in 1971 as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., operating as the nation’s primary intercity passenger rail network serving more than 500 destinations across 46 states as well as parts of Canada.
