March 18, 2026
ERT Winter Progress Update: Track Installation & More
Benchwalls have been completed and track installation is now underway.
Construction
Late 2027
Line 2 more than 50% complete; benchwall construction done
Amtrak, U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New Jersey Transit
Line 2 outage ending July 2026
Prime Contractor:
Skanska / EJ Electric Joint Venture
Amtrak, U.S. DOT FRA Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New Jersey Transit
The ERT Rehabilitation Project is restoring the two tubes that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The work will modernize the tunnel infrastructure, improving safety, reliability, and security and bring the systems to a state of good repair.
The project involves demolishing the existing tunnel systems down to concrete liners, followed by reconstructing and modernizing all tunnel systems. These include:
Work is also being performed at aboveground areas in Queens. This includes upgrading the tunnel approaches and installing new signal houses and signal and traction power cables. Additional work is also being performed at two ventilation facilities in Manhattan and Queens.
During construction, Amtrak is maintaining the majority of train service through the remaining tunnels by closing one tube at a time. Additional projects completed ahead of the major tunnel work helped to mitigate potential service impacts.
The tubes, which opened in 1910, require significant upgrades and comprehensive rehabilitation to modernize critical NEC infrastructure and improve reliability for a new era of rail. The ERT Rehabilitation Project is restoring the two tubes that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.Â
The work will modernize the tunnel infrastructure, improving safety, reliability, and security and bring the systems to a state of good repair. The project will involve demolishing the existing tunnel systems down to concrete liners, followed by reconstructing and modernizing all tunnel systems.
The ERT Rehabilitation Project is partially funded by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA). This includes funding received through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program and Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Additional funding from the State of New York was announced in December 2021 by Senator Chuck Schumer, who facilitated an agreement in which MTA committed up to $432 million for the ERT Rehabilitation Project.
March 18, 2026
Benchwalls have been completed and track installation is now underway.
December 18, 2025
The project remains on schedule for train service to resume in the fully rehabilitated Line 2 tunnel in July 2026.
September 16, 2025
The project remains on schedule for train service to resume in the fully rehabilitated Line 2 tunnel in July 2026.
August 27, 2025
Completely rehabilitating a 115-year-old tunnel is a massive undertaking. During the decommissioning phase earlier this summer, we removed approximately 24,000…
For additional information about the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project, email us at DL_ERT_REHAB@Amtrak.com to connect with a member of the project team