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Amtrak Says East River Tunnel Overhaul Hits Halfway Mark

Demolition in Tube 2 is complete with reconstruction underway toward a July 2026 reopening.

Overview

  • Two of the four century-old tubes are being rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy damage and decades of deterioration.
  • Officials report six months of progress in a 13‑month outage for Tube 2, which closed in May and is targeted to reopen in July 2026.
  • Crews have removed damaged bench walls and conduits and begun structural rebuilding while working around the clock.
  • Following the rebuild, new signal and electrical systems will be installed, then tested, with a planned three‑month transition before a roughly 13‑month Tube 1 phase starting in fall 2026.
  • With only three tubes available, tunnel capacity is about 75% as agencies coordinate LIRR and NJ Transit operations, and the two‑tube rehabilitation is projected to finish in 2027.