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Amtrak reopens East River Tunnel line damaged by Superstorm Sandy
ABC7 New York • • business
Key Points:
- Amtrak has completed the rehabilitation of East River Tunnel Line 2, a key rail link damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, marking the halfway point of the restoration project.
- The tunnel, which carries over 450 daily trains including Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, and NJ Transit, underwent a year-long overhaul to improve safety and reliability.
- The project involved stripping the tunnel down to its concrete liner and reconstructing critical systems, with additional infrastructure upgrades near Long Island City in Queens.
- The East River Tunnel system, opened in 1910, consists of four tubes; Amtrak plans to begin work on Line 1 this fall, with completion expected by the end of 2027, while Lines 3 and 4 do not currently require rehabilitation.
- Amtrak is celebrating the milestone with a reopening event at Penn Station, including a press conference and a ceremonial train ride through the refurbished tunnel.
