Portal Bridge Transfer Brings Major Changes for NJ Transit and Amtrak Riders

Commuters face schedule changes, slower and more crowded trains during 4-week construction project.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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As construction on the new Portal North Bridge in New Jersey gets underway, NJ Transit and Amtrak riders will see significant changes to their commutes over the next month. Amtrak will begin transferring rail traffic from the 115-year-old Portal Bridge to the new bridge, forcing hundreds of thousands of riders to share a single track between Newark and Secaucus. NJ Transit Midtown Direct service will also be rerouted to Hoboken during the week, and alternate transit options like PATH, ferries, and buses will be busier than normal.

Why it matters

The aging Portal Bridge has been a notorious source of delays along the busiest rail corridor in the U.S. for decades. While the construction will cause short-term disruptions, NJ Transit leaders say the new bridge will significantly improve reliability once completed.

The details

Starting on Sunday, Amtrak will begin transferring rail traffic from the old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. This "Portal North Bridge Cutover" project will last for four weeks, during which hundreds of thousands of rail commuters will have to share a single track between Newark and Secaucus. In addition, NJ Transit's Midtown Direct service will be rerouted to Hoboken during the week, and alternate transit options like PATH, ferries, and buses will see increased ridership.

  • The Portal North Bridge Cutover project will begin on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Regular commuter rail schedules are expected to return on March 15, 2026.

The players

NJ Transit

The public transportation system serving the state of New Jersey, operating bus, rail, and light rail services.

Amtrak

The national passenger railroad service of the United States, operating intercity trains on over 21,000 miles of track.

Kris Kolluri

The President of NJ Transit, who stated that the new Portal North Bridge will increase reliability after decades of issues with the aging Portal Bridge.

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What they’re saying

“The bridge literally has not been in good shape for decades, and for the first time in 100 years, we're about to build a brand new bridge and open a brand new bridge so we can increase reliability.”

— Kris Kolluri, President, NJ Transit (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Regular schedules are expected to return on March 15, 2026 once the Portal North Bridge Cutover project is completed.

The takeaway

This construction project on the Portal Bridge, a critical piece of infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor, will cause significant short-term disruptions for NJ Transit and Amtrak riders. However, the new Portal North Bridge is expected to greatly improve reliability and reduce delays along this busy rail line once the project is finished.