Overview

• Amtrak will begin sequential 13-month closures of two East River rail tunnels on May 23 to address structural damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.
• The project will reduce Penn Station's capacity by 25%, significantly affecting Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) operations and commuter service.
• Amtrak asserts that full closures are the only viable option for comprehensive rehabilitation, rejecting calls for incremental or off-peak repairs.
• MTA and LIRR officials have criticized Amtrak for insufficient planning to mitigate service disruptions for 125,000 daily riders and have sought alternative strategies.
• Engineers emphasize the urgency of repairs, citing decades of saltwater corrosion that have compromised tunnel walls and power cables.