Pallone Leads Northeast Corridor Tour with Amtrak, NJ Transit, and Federal Officials to Address Ongoing Service Issues

New Brunswick, NJ - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) led a tour of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) with key leaders from Amtrak, NJ Transit, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Pallone organized the tour to directly address the significant disruptions and delays that have plagued New Jersey commuters throughout the summer. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, NJ Transit President Kevin Corbett, FRA officials, and members of New Jersey's congressional delegation joined Pallone to assess the status of long-overdue infrastructure improvements, many of them funded through the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

"For months, New Jersey commuters have been dealing with unbearable delays and service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor. I've been pushing for better service because our residents deserve reliable and efficient transportation. Today's tour gave us a firsthand look at the status of critical projects that will reduce disruptions and modernize our rail system. I will continue to hold Amtrak and NJ Transit accountable until these long-overdue improvements are fully realized. New Jersey commuters deserve nothing less," said Pallone.

The tour began at Moynihan Train Hall in New York City and included stops in Newark and New Brunswick. Key projects showcased during the tour included the Hudson Tunnel Project, Portal North Bridge, Penn Station Capacity Expansion, the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement, and the Harrison Fourth Track.

Since the summer of 2024, Pallone has been seeking answers and improvements following numerous disruptions on the Northeast Corridor. After a major electrical malfunction in May, Pallone sent a letter demanding that Amtrak prioritize federal funds for modernization and ensure reliable service. In response, Amtrak outlined steps to address the service failures, but Pallone continued to press for immediate solutions as issues persisted. He has since engaged in regular calls with Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and the need for regular updates on progress. Pallone has also condemned proposed Republican budget cuts to Amtrak, warning they would undermine critical infrastructure improvements.

Pallone's months-long efforts culminated in today's tour of key NEC projects, showcasing the urgent need for continued upgrades. He urged Amtrak and NJ Transit to expedite efforts to fix century-old overhead wires and complete major infrastructure projects.

The tour concluded with a press gaggle at New Brunswick Station, where Pallone and other members of New Jersey's congressional delegation reiterated their commitment to improving rail service for the state's commuters. Pallone emphasized the importance of federal support to ensure these projects are completed and provide long-lasting benefits for the region.

"We appreciate the New Jersey Congressional Delegation's keen interest in the century-old infrastructure along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor that has suffered from decades of disinvestment," said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. "NJ TRANSIT, with support from Governor Murphy and our delegation, will continue to work collaboratively with Amtrak to support accelerating all the necessary infrastructure improvements that will deliver the best possible customer experience for generations to come."

"Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT are working hard to fix the range of issues that plagued us in May and June, and while major disruptions have been greatly reduced, our collaboration is not stopping as we continue to inspect, maintain and improve service for all customers and seek to identify and fix root causes," said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. "We are thankful to have the opportunity to host Congressman Pallone and the rest of the New Jersey Congressional delegation so they can see the infrastructure and our collaborative efforts first-hand. We greatly appreciate the Delegation's leadership in seeking to secure the federal investments necessary to modernize our infrastructure for improved reliability."

"Today's tour was an important step in our efforts to improve service, efficiency, and safety for NJ Transit and Amtrak customers," said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). "Since coming to Congress, I've made this a top priority - directly addressing the challenges with Secretary Buttigieg, encouraging continued collaboration with our partners across federal and state government, and working to deliver funding to improve rail service in New Jersey. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the delegation to bring relief to our constituents."

"Fixing and strengthening public transit in New Jersey must be a top priority to help families struggling with affordability and reliability," said Congressman Kim. "Today's tour showed that there's been progress to prevent disruptions and improve service, but there's more to be done. I'll continue working with my colleagues to keep investing in public transit so New Jerseyans can get to work and get home safely and on time."

"I was pleased to get Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT leadership in the same room with members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to discuss how we can work together going forward to address the most pressing concerns for New Jersey commuters while fighting for additional federal funding to make both short and long-term upgrades to infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor. It's essential for our state: New Jersey families must be able to rely on high quality, affordable, and accessible transportation. That's why I have been leading efforts with Reps. Pallone, Menendez, and the Jersey delegation to hold Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT accountable for the ongoing delays, maintenance failures, and lack of communication with riders that have created another "Summer of Hell" for New Jersey commuters. Today's conversations were a step in the right direction," said Rep. Sherrill.

"When our trains aren't functioning properly, it's not just a headache for commuters, it takes money right out of their pocketbooks. It's critical that we all sit at the table together to discuss these problems. I'm glad that today, we're taking steps to do just that and get our trains, our commuters, and our economy back on track as quickly as possible," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "I will always fight to make life more affordable for commuters and ensure they can show up to work, see loved ones, and provide for their families."