Portal Bridge cutover begins, bringing major NJ Transit service changes
The cutover process began today, and commuters can expect reduced service, modified schedules and longer wait times as trains operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus.
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Major service changes are underway for NJ Transit riders as crews begin transferring rail traffic from the century‑old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge, a shift that will disrupt commutes for several weeks.
The cutover process began today, and commuters can expect reduced service, modified schedules and longer wait times as trains operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus.
All rail lines except the Atlantic City Line will be affected. Schedules will be impacted each day, with the most significant disruptions during weekday commutes.
On weekdays, riders on the Morristown, Gladstone Branch and Montclair‑Boonton lines who typically travel directly into New York Penn Station will instead be rerouted to Hoboken Terminal. Midtown Direct customers are being advised to purchase tickets and passes to and from Hoboken.
From there, riders will need to transfer to buses, ferries or PATH trains to complete their trips.
NJ Transit says it will cross‑honor tickets with PATH and NY Waterway ferries, and additional ferry service will be available during peak morning and evening commutes.
Although schedules have now adjusted, the holiday weekend appeared to be the “calm before the storm” ahead of the workweek. Some riders said Sunday that the temporary inconvenience will be worth it for long‑term improvements.
“I think updates are good if the trains are old and the system is old. Unfortunately, when that happens, it just delays everything,” said Eliana Crockett in Hoboken. “But yeah, I mean, if it means that there’s more efficient travel, then I’m willing to wait a bit longer.”
The Portal North Bridge project is part of a broader effort to modernize aging infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor, one of the nation’s busiest rail lines.
Cutover work is expected to be completed by March 14, with regular NJ Transit schedules set to resume March 15, pending safety testing.
