Published: June 10, 2025
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The East River Tunnel Rehab Project has made strong progress over the past few weeks. The project remains on schedule, and no service disruptions have occurred as a direct result of this work to date.
“Decommission” is now the word of the week. Before demolishing the existing tunnel systems in the 1st tunnel (Line 2) down to the concrete liner, the project team must decommission – or power off and remove from service – all the existing tunnel systems.
This key step will ensure the safety of our crews, protecting them from the 750-volt DC “third rail” power used by Long Island Rail Road trains, as well as the 12,000-volt AC “overhead catenary” power used by Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains.
So far, the project team has successfully decommissioned the third rail power system and is in the process of decommissioning other assets throughout the two-mile long tunnel tube, such as the communications and signal systems that help instruct trains when to speed up and slow down. This work includes ensuring the power is turned off, cutting cables, removing overhead catenary wires, disconnecting tunnel security cameras, and much more.
Over the past week, the team also installed temporary power in the tunnel, placed safety barriers, and advanced work to create a new aboveground entrance into the tunnel at 32nd St for maintenance and emergency crews, among other work activities.
Decommissioned signal cables in Line 2
Continued work at 32nd St, an added new temporary access to the tunnel to facilitate and improve project logistics
Relocation of safety barriers and other improvements to support equipment access.
Amtrak’s Electric Traction team in the process of decommissioning the overhead catenary system
