Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this week's On The Way, "All Things Considered" host Sean Carlson and WNYC's transit team discuss the state of an Amtrak project that has taken 15 months to complete.
Complete phase one, that is.
Amtrak on Monday wrapped up a 15-month rehabilitation of one of its East River train tunnels, completing the first phase of a project that’s drawn criticism from MTA officials because of its effect on Long Island Rail Road service.
Amtrak owns four tunnels beneath the river, two of which were damaged in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. Last year, the national railroad began repair work that required shutting down one tunnel at a time, despite the MTA calling for a “repair in place” approach—or working on nights and weekends while service continued during rush hour.
The LIRR, which is the nation’s busiest commuter railroad, relies on the tunnels to run service in and out of Penn Station. NJ Transit and Amtrak also use the tubes. In total, more than 450 trains run through them every day.
For more On The Way, and to ask us your own burning questions about the NYC transit system, subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
bit.ly/4evpHmz
Read past editions of On The Way at bit.ly/3JT2qjJ
Video produced by Madison Bristowe and Daniel Shapiro
In this week's On The Way, "All Things Considered" host Sean Carlson and WNYC's transit team discuss the state of an Amtrak project that has taken 15 months to complete.
Complete phase one, that is.
Amtrak on Monday wrapped up a 15-month rehabilitation of one of its East River train tunnels, completing the first phase of a project that’s drawn criticism from MTA officials because of its effect on Long Island Rail Road service.
Amtrak owns four tunnels beneath the river, two of which were damaged in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. Last year, the national railroad began repair work that required shutting down one tunnel at a time, despite the MTA calling for a “repair in place” approach—or working on nights and weekends while service continued during rush hour.
The LIRR, which is the nation’s busiest commuter railroad, relies on the tunnels to run service in and out of Penn Station. NJ Transit and Amtrak also use the tubes. In total, more than 450 trains run through them every day.
For more On The Way, and to ask us your own burning questions about the NYC transit system, subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
bit.ly/4evpHmz
Read past editions of On The Way at bit.ly/3JT2qjJ
Video produced by Madison Bristowe and Daniel Shapiro
