Amtrak Releases Photos of Cracks In Tunnels

Amtrak has released a report which includes photos of the long cracks under the Hudson River.

“Public awareness of the critical needs of the tunnels is important to build regional
understanding of what must be done to provide current and future train service levels into New York,” Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia said in a release.

“The tunnels are safe for passenger train operations,” the release states. “However a permanent fix is required soon so that the tunnels remain available for long-term use by the traveling public.”

The tunnels are 104 years old, according to NJ.com.

While the tunnels are not in danger of collapsing, the bench walls which house electrical wiring and the tracks themselves suffered damage from the seawater that flooded the tunnels during Hurricane Sandy.

“There is no comfort zone to say we don’t need to be worried,” Coscia said. “Over time, something won’t function and we won’t be able to run a train through them,” Coscia said.

In order to repair the cracks, Amtrak would need to shut down the tunnels. and reduce the number of rush hour trains from 24 per hour to just 6. Amtrak hopes to build the Gateway Tunnel under the hudson to keep train traffic from backing up.

The repairs come with a $689 million price tag.

Photo: from citylab.com

My9 New Jersey