Phase 2 starts October 11: What riders need to know

If you take NJ Transit, check your usual train before October 11. Temporary schedules start that Sunday while Amtrak connects the second track to the new Portal North Bridge. They will be in place for about five weeks.

Work begins October 9. Regular schedules are expected back Sunday, November 15, after safety testing. For some riders, the change is a new departure time. For weekday Midtown Direct riders, it also means going through Hoboken instead of Penn Station New York.

What to check on your line

Start with your line's temporary timetable. Here is the short version:

• Montclair-Boonton, Morris & Essex, and Gladstone Branch riders: Weekday Midtown Direct trains will operate to and from Hoboken. Weekend Midtown Direct trains will continue to New York Penn Station.
• Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line riders: Service through the Portal corridor will be reduced. Some trains will be combined, canceled, or assigned new times and stopping patterns.
• Raritan Valley Line riders: One-seat rides to and from New York Penn Station will begin and end at Newark Penn Station during the temporary schedule period.

Before your first trip

• Check the destination on your ticket. For weekday Midtown Direct trips, NJ Transit says to buy a Hoboken ticket or pass. Weekend rules are different.
• Know your transfer from Hoboken. Eligible tickets are cross-honored on PATH between Hoboken and 33rd Street, NJ Transit bus 126, and NY Waterway ferries to West 39th Street on weekdays.
• Check again before you leave. Train times and service alerts can change. Use the NJ Transit app or the official Portal cutover page.

What crews are changing at the bridge

Amtrak will connect the second track and bring new signals, switches, power, and overhead wires into service. Crews must test the system before trains can use both tracks.

The new fixed bridge replaces the 116-year-old swing bridge, which has delayed trains when it opened for boats or failed to close correctly. This work will move the remaining trains off the old bridge.

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