Commuter Relief: NJ Transit & Amtrak Set to Restore Direct NYC Service After Month-Long Detours
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
NORTH JERSEY — The “Hoboken Transfer” is finally coming to an end. After a month of logistical hurdles and diverted commutes, NJ Transit and Amtrak have confirmed that normal rail schedules will resume this weekend, marking a major milestone in the historic Portal North Bridge project.
When Does Normal Service Resume?
Commuters can breathe a sigh of relief starting Sunday, March 15th, 2026.
Since February 16, nearly 18,000 daily riders have been forced to divert through Hoboken Terminal, transferring to ferries, PATH trains, or buses to reach Manhattan. Beginning Sunday, direct service to New York Penn Station will be restored across all affected rail lines (excluding the Atlantic City Line, which remained unaffected).
Check Your Schedule: Passengers are encouraged to view the updated NJ Transit timetables here before their Monday morning commute.
Why the Disruption? The Portal North Bridge Milestone
The month-long service change wasn’t just routine maintenance—it was a surgical strike to modernize the Northeast Corridor. Engineers successfully transitioned tracks and wiring from a 116-year-old swing bridge to a brand-new, high-level fixed span over the Hackensack River in Kearny.
The New Portal North Bridge at a Glance:
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Height: Rises 50 feet above the river (double the previous clearance).
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Efficiency: No more “swinging” to let boats pass, which previously caused massive rail bottlenecks.
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Capacity: Designed to support the future growth of the Gateway Program, which aims to eventually double rail capacity between Newark and New York.
A Historic Investment in NJ Infrastructure
The $1.56 billion project—the largest construction award in NJ Transit’s history—is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak. By replacing the century-old “Achilles heel” of the Northeast Corridor, officials promise improved reliability and fewer “bridge-related” delays that have plagued commuters for decades.
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Tags: #NJTransit #Amtrak #PortalNorthBridge #NJCommuter #PublicTransit #NorthJerseyNews #InfrastructureUpdate
