Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT have presented a detailed update on their ongoing rail improvement efforts, aimed at strengthening infrastructure, reducing service disruptions, and enhancing coordination ahead of the 2025 summer travel season.
The update was delivered during a summit in Newark attended by Governor Phil Murphy and senior officials from both agencies.
The rail improvement programme focuses on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Trenton and New York Penn Station, a key section of the region’s passenger rail network. The initiative was launched following a series of service interruptions in May and June 2024 that highlighted the need for closer operational collaboration and accelerated maintenance activity.
Since June 2024, Amtrak has completed over 9,500 hardware replacements on the corridor and undertaken improvements at three substations, with work at eight more planned over the coming months. Track, signal, and electric traction works are ongoing across multiple locations, including the reconstruction of heavily used interlockings at New York Penn Station.
As part of the joint plan, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak have increased visual inspections of pantographs and introduced additional engineer training. A second round of aerial inspections using helicopters has also been conducted to assess the condition of overhead electric systems.
Alongside infrastructure improvements, NJ TRANSIT is advancing a 1.6 billion USD investment in new rolling stock, including 174 Multilevel III railcars fitted with Automatic Drop Devices (ADDs), which help reduce damage during electrical faults. The agency plans to order a further 200 cars later this year and is working with the manufacturer on options to retrofit parts of the current fleet with similar technology.
Other developments outlined include:
- Installation of chip protectors across NJ TRANSIT’s existing fleet to guard against overhead wire damage
- Placement of NJ TRANSIT staff within Amtrak’s Penn Station control centre to improve real-time coordination
- Pre-emptive maintenance measures triggered by weather forecasts, including heat-related inspections and crew positioning
- Improved customer service measures, such as enhanced real-time travel updates and staff deployment at key stations
Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT are also collaborating with Rutgers University and the Federal Railroad Administration on pantograph testing to support long-term infrastructure resilience.
In addition, the agencies continue to work with the US Department of Transportation on federally supported capital projects, including 90 million USD in grants awarded last year for electric traction and signalling work in New Jersey.
The rail improvement programme remains ongoing, with further updates expected as work continues into the summer.
The full progress report can be read here.
