Penn Station Renewal Continues 2 Years After 'Summer Of Hell'

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — It has been two years since New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proclaimed that infrastructure fixes at Penn Station would result in a "summer of hell" for commuters, and Amtrak is getting ready for another round of construction at the troubled transit hub.

Starting June 28 the transit company will begin repairing the aging "JO railroad interlocking" system that directs Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ TRANSIT trains from Penn Station to the East River Tunnels, Amtrak executives announced Thursday. The work is expected to cost $30 million and will result in service changes on some Amtrak routes.

"Amtrak has made record levels of capital investment to improve the reliability of our infrastructure and overall customer experience, and we continue to do so in New York Penn Station for all the users of this important station," Amtrak President & CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement.

Anderson added that the company appreciates "continued support" from partners such as the MTA and from commuters.

The MTA announced Thursday that Long Island Rail Road service will "remain consistent with current levels" but there will be changes to the current schedule. Seven morning rush an evening rush trains will be canceled from July 1 and Sept. 2, MTA officials said. To accommodate for the cancellations, the MTA will add cars to popular trains and add five trains during morning and evening peak periods. Long Island Rail Road service changes will affect the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Hempstead, Long Beach, Montauka and Ronkonkoma lines.

Construction on the JO railroad interlocking system should be complete by Sept. 2, Amtrak executives said.

Here's a list of Amtrak routes that will be affected by the work:

• Northeast Regional Train 110, operating from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to New York Penn Station (NYP), and 127 operating from NYP to WAS will be cancelled.
• Northbound Keystone Train 640 is terminating at Newark Penn Station (NWK).
• Southbound Keystone Train 643 is originating at NWK.
• Southbound Keystone Train 653 is departing NYP early.
• Cardinal Train 51 will depart NYP early on weekdays only.
• Maple Leaf Train 63 and Adirondack Train 69 will be combined on the regular time slot for 63 and will split at Albany, N.Y. (ALB).