Latest news with #EastRiverTunnels
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
LIRR president warns riders as Amtrak's East River Tunnel shutdown approaches
The Long Island Rail Road is warning riders to prepare for possible service disruptions next week when Amtrak starts a years-long project to fix the East River Tunnels. Amtrak's major tunnel repair project begins on May 23, when sections of the tunnels will be closed in phases over three years. Amtrak to begin major repairs to East River Tunnels Amtrak says the $1.6 billion project aims to repair long-standing damage from Superstorm Sandy that can no longer be put off. "They are committed to delivering a quality end product and they've put in a lot of time and effort in making sure that the people who ride on our service get the experience that they deserve," an Amtrak official said. CBS News New York got a rare look inside the tunnels, which revealed cracked ceilings, erosion and water from the East River flowing onto the tracks. LIRR riders say their daily commutes are already crowded and stressful, and they fear the project will make things worse. "When they do these things, there's always an issue," Mike Stella said. Long Island Rail Road president warns tunnel shutdown will cause problems LIRR President Robert Free said closing two of the four tunnels used by Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit leaves little room for service interruptions in the other tunnels. "We've spoken to Amtrak many times over the years, expressing our concerns over this outage, expressing that there are other ways to do this," he said. Just last week, a separate tunnel issue caused widespread delays, which some see as a preview of what's to come. "Trains were horrific and there definitely were delays. And getting out to Long Island, I don't need any more delays," another rider said. "As we move ever closer to this potential catastrophic outage that's about to happen, and they are getting questions from customers, what would they do in the event? There's a service?" Free said. Free said the LIRR proposed alternatives, including weekend or overnight work, but Amtrak said the full shutdown is necessary. In a statement, Amtrak said a "rehab in place" plan, like the one used for the L train, isn't feasible in this situation. The damage is too expensive and the project is intended to renew the tunnel's lifespan another 100 years, not just patch it temporarily, Amtrak said.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Rare tour of Amtrak's East River Tunnels before shutdown for $1.6 billion repair project
Before Amtrak starts its $1.6 billion project to repair the East River Tunnels damaged in Superstorm Sandy, CBS News New York got a rare look inside the tubes hundreds of feet below the surface. While some fear Amtrak's plan to shut down rail tunnels will be a nightmare for New York City commuters on the Long Island Rail Road, officials say there's no other way to make the repairs. Rare look inside Amtrak East River Tunnels before shutdown Amtrak, which owns the East River Tunnels, says two of the four tubes will be closed while crews demolish and remove systems down to the concrete liner, patch crumbling walls, and replace cables and bench walls. "This is 130-year-old steel," one Amtrak official said. Our tour of the tunnels revealed some of the specific problems that need to be fixed, including water actively pouring inside and impacting the wires above the tracks. "This is a great example of the challenges we face in the system. You have water egress," another Amtrak official said. A look inside one of Amtrak's East River Tunnels before the start of a $1.6 billion project to repair damage from Superstorm Sandy. The project requires a shutdown of the tunnels. May 15, 2025. CBS News New York Repairs expected to take until 2027 The massive project is scheduled for completion in late 2027. Officials say it's been in the works for months and there are no suitable alternatives. Critics argue LIRR service will see major disruptions once the tunnels are closed and construction begins. The long-term outage has already limited service to Penn Station, like in early May when trains were affected by an issue in one of the tubes. "The composite of all of that extra work requires that more long-term shut down in order to complete the project quicker, more efficiently and at a lower cost," David Cooper, Amtrak's senior principal project manager, said. Another Amtrak official said riders should feel confident the work will be done on time. "They are committed to delivering a quality end product and they've put in a lot of time and effort in making sure that the people who ride on our service get the experience that they deserve," he said.
