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Amtrak Completes First Phase of East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project

Amtrak has officially reopened the East River Tunnel Line 2, marking the completion of the first phase of a major rehabilitation project. The 116-year-old tunnel, which was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, underwent a 15-month overhaul that involved stripping the structure down to its concrete liner and rebuilding key systems from the inside out. The project, funded by $1.3 billion in federal funds, features upgraded drainage, new signal and power systems, and improved fire and life-safety systems to ensure long-term reliability. While Amtrak officials celebrated the milestone, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber expressed some criticism regarding the service disruptions caused by the closure. Lieber noted that the project forced the Long Island Rail Road to reduce peak hour service by 20%, leading to increased crowding at Penn Station. However, Amtrak Vice President of Infrastructure Project Delivery Warren LeBeau defended the decision, stating that a repair-in-place approach would have taken years longer and caused even more significant impacts on riders. Work on the second damaged tube, Line 1, is scheduled to begin later this fall and is expected to conclude by the end of 2027.

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