June 18, 2026
East River Tunnel Rehab Moves Closer to Service Restoration Following a Year of Progress
The ERT Rehab Project has entered its most critical phase as crews advance toward restoring service in the first tunnel…
East River Tunnel Rehab
Program Status
Construction
Quick Facts
Benefits
- Modernized tunnel and rail systems infrastructure provides for reduced disruptions and maintenance costs
- Reconstructed bench walls
- New signal and power systems
- New track and drainage
- Increased safety and service reliability through new fire detection systems
- Brings infrastructure to a state of good repair
Estimated Construction Completion
Late 2027
Program Partners
Amtrak, U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New Jersey Transit
Latest Milestone
Line 2 rehab nearly complete; commenced final systems installation, testing, and commissioning activities
Upcoming Milestones
August 2026: Train service resumes in Line 2 (first tunnel to be rehabbed)
Fall 2026: Line 1 outage begins for major rehab
Contractors
Prime Contractor:
Skanska / EJ Electric Joint Venture
Funding Sources
Amtrak, U.S. DOT FRA Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New Jersey Transit
Project Construction
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:
- Repair of the tunnel liner;
- Reconstruction of the bench walls in a modern, high-low configuration with new cable conduits;
- Conversion from ballasted track to a modern, direct fixation track system;
- Installation of new fire and smoke detection systems; and
- Replacement of signals, traction power, standpipe, and drainage systems.
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.
Service Impacts
During construction, Amtrak and its partners are 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 and other mitigation actions taken by Amtrak have helped to limit potential service impacts.
Resources
The East River Tunnel (ERT) consists of four tubes connecting New York City to destinations east, and is used by Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and NJ TRANSIT trains.
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. The improvements to the East River Tunnel will ensure that the tunnel will continue to carry passengers safely and efficiently for the next century.
The work underway 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.
The ERT Rehabilitation Project is primarily 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 2021 by Senator Chuck Schumer, who facilitated an agreement in which MTA committed up to $432 million for the ERT Rehabilitation Project.
Latest Updates
March 18, 2026
ERT Winter Progress Update: Track Installation & More
Benchwalls have been completed and track installation is now underway.
December 18, 2025
From Demolition to Renewal: East River Tunnel Rehab Continues to Progress
The project remains on schedule for train service to resume in the fully rehabilitated Line 2 tunnel in July 2026.
September 16, 2025
1st Quarter Recap: ERT Rehab Project Remains on Schedule
The project remains on schedule for train service to resume in the fully rehabilitated Line 2 tunnel in July 2026.
August 27, 2025
Bench Wall Demolition: No Small Feat
Completely rehabilitating a 115-year-old tunnel is a massive undertaking. During the decommissioning phase earlier this summer, we removed approximately 24,000…
August 13, 2025
Major Bench Wall Demolition Begins in East River Tunnel
August brought significant momentum to the East River Tunnel Rehab project with the start of major bench wall demolition. Originally…
July 29, 2025
ERT Rehab Update: Ballast Removal Nearing Completion & Bench Wall Demolition Advancing
Since our last update earlier this month, the project team has continued to remove ballast from the tunnel and conduct…
July 17, 2025
Progress Unfolds in the East River Tunnel
Since the start of the long-term outage on May 23, the East River Tunnel Rehab Project has been steadily advancing…
July 11, 2025
ERT Rehab Project Completes Decommissioning Phase
Work recently wrapped up to decommission existing tunnel systems (i.e. power and signaling) and install temporary systems (i.e. power, lighting,…
June 27, 2025
East River Tunnel Rehab Project Remains on Schedule Following First Month of Work
This week marks one month since the long-term outage began for the East River Tunnel Rehab Project. The project is…
June 17, 2025
Amtrak Capital Delivery Leadership Tours ERT Rehab Project Progress
Amtrak Acting Senior Vice President of Capital Delivery Jim Short recently visited the East River Tunnel Rehab Project site for…
June 10, 2025
ERT Rehab Project Update: Decommissioning Begins
“Decommission” is now the word of the week. Before demolishing the existing tunnel systems in the 1st tunnel (Line 2)…
Stay in Touch
For additional information about the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project, email us at ERToutreach@Amtrak.com to connect with a member of the project team