Overview

• Amtrak has initiated repairs on the East River Tunnel, starting with a 10-day closure of Tube 1, which will be followed by 13-month shutdowns of two tubes sequentially.
• The project aims to address Superstorm Sandy-related damage and aging infrastructure, including corroded wiring, spalling concrete, and drainage issues.
• Governor Hochul and MTA officials have secured commitments from Amtrak for enhanced inspections, additional crews, and third-party oversight to mitigate commuter disruptions.
• The closures reduce tunnel capacity by 25%, raising concerns from LIRR leadership about potential service suspensions if another tube unexpectedly goes offline.
• Amtrak asserts that full tube closures are necessary for comprehensive repairs, rejecting alternative phased or weekend-only approaches advocated by regional officials.