New York Penn Station Capacity Expansion

View Other Amtrak Projects at New York Penn Station

Quick Facts

Concept Planning (to be completed in spring 2025)

Benefits

Increased rail capacity on the Northeast Corridor
New station tracks and platforms
New state-of-the-art customer experience and amenities
Improved connectivity and passenger flow

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the project a Federal State Partnership grant in November 2024 to complete planning and engineering.

Upcoming Milestones

Completion of concept planning in Q1 2025

Project Partners

Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Funding Sources

Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, State of New York, FRA

Supporting Additional Northeast Corridor (NEC) Capacity for a New Era of Passenger Rail

Greater train capacity at New York Penn Station is needed to accommodate existing and anticipated passenger demand. Long-overdue infrastructure improvements are being planned as part of the Gateway Program. After decades of underinvestment, several projects have received FRA grants and future funding commitments, which will allow increased peak-hour train service into Penn Station from New Jersey and destinations south and west. To accommodate the steady growth of ridership along the NEC and in the west-of-Hudson commuter market, the Penn Station Capacity Expansion Project will increase rail capacity in New York.

Key elements of the Penn Station Capacity Expansion Project could include:

Additional tracks and platforms to increase rail capacity and train service;
New concourses, amenities, and services for customers (such as ticketing, waiting areas, restrooms, and retail space);
A new station building over the additional track and platform area to provide a visible civic presence, as well as new entrances and concourses that accommodate passenger flows and connect the entire Penn Station complex;
Non-public space for railroad operations (such as building maintenance, storage, and employee facilities).

Project Updates

Amtrak Secures Funding to Advance 13 Key Infrastructure Projects from the Northeast Corridor Federal State Partnership Program (November 2024)

Amtrak, MTA, and NJ TRANSIT Release Feasibility Study as Next Major Step to Increase Capacity at New York Penn Station (October 2024)

Amtrak Awards Contract to Arup for Preliminary Design of Railroad Infrastructure That Will Support New York Penn Station Expansion (June 2022)

Project Status

The Railroad Partners (Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, and MTA) are continuing to advance early design and engineering work, and have begun stakeholder and public outreach to prepare for the initiation of the environmental review process for the project. This includes the convening of the Station Working Advisory Group in September 2024.

Visit the Penn Station Complex website for project updates and upcoming events.