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
Latest Milestone
Line 2 rehab nearly complete; commenced final systems installation, testing, and commissioning activities
Program Partners
Amtrak, U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New Jersey Transit
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 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.
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