Regular NJ Transit rail schedules resume with new Portal North Bridge open

"Unlike the old bridge, which frequently gets stuck when swinging open to let river traffic through, the new Portal North Bridge is tall enough to allow boats and barges to pass without having to open. Trains will also be able to travel up to 90 mph on the new bridge, compared to 60 mph on the old one, according to NJ Transit."

"The Portal North Bridge is one of the first steps in the multiphased Gateway megaproject to improve service to Manhattan Penn Station. The megaproject includes building new Hudson River tunnels along the Northeast Corridor."

"The new bridge is a yearslong project to replace the old Portal Bridge, built in 1910 by the Pennsylvania Railroad company. The crossing is shared by NJ Transit and Amtrak trains, and in 2020, the Gateway Development Commission approved a $2.3 billion project to replace the old bridge."

NJ Transit has restored regular weekday schedules following a month of service disruptions related to the opening of the new Portal North Bridge, which replaces the 1910 Portal Bridge crossing the Hackensack River. The $2.3 billion project, approved in 2020, serves both NJ Transit and Amtrak trains. The new bridge eliminates frequent delays caused by the old bridge's swing mechanism for river traffic, as it is tall enough to allow boats and barges to pass underneath. Trains can now travel at 90 mph instead of 60 mph on the new structure. This bridge represents the first phase of the larger Gateway megaproject aimed at improving service to Manhattan Penn Station, which includes building new Hudson River tunnels. Despite these improvements, service issues persist, with early delays reported due to disabled trains.

Read at Gothamist