Pallone Leads Members of New Jersey Delegation in Demanding Amtrak Action to Prevent Another Summer of Hell

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) led members of New Jersey congressional delegation in demanding answers from Amtrak on the status of long-overdue repairs to the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the implementation of federally funded infrastructure upgrades. In a letter to Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia, Pallone and his colleagues stressed the need for immediate action to prevent another catastrophic summer of train delays, service outages, and commuter misery in the Garden State.

“While we are relieved that the occurrence and length of delays have decreased since the ‘summer of hell’ last year, our constituents still experience persistent delays in the system. New Jersey families need assurances that a clear plan of action is in place ahead of what is bound to be another busy spring and summer in the Garden State,” Pallone and his Garden State congressional colleagues wrote.

The letter calls on Amtrak to provide a detailed update on repair and replacement work in New Jersey, including the status of the $112 million in federal funding awarded last year through the historic Infrastructure Law’s RAISE grant program passed by Democrats and signed by President Biden. The NJ lawmakers underscored the urgent need for transparency about Amtrak’s work schedule and its coordination with New Jersey TRANSIT (NJT) to minimize service disruptions.

The $112 million in federal funding grants includes:

• $18.6 million to upgrade the signal system between New Brunswick and Elizabeth
• $13.4 million for catenary modernization across a 23-mile stretch in northern New Jersey
• $80 million for upgrades at the Kearny Substation

Pallone and the delegation also pressed Amtrak to immediately finalize a work outage schedule with NJT to ensure that critical repairs to catenary wires and signals are completed before summer heat exacerbates system failures. They emphasized that while delays have improved since last year’s crisis, persistent service disruptions continue to plague the NEC, underscoring the need for a long-term, state-of-good-repair plan.

“The problems ailing New Jersey’s commuter rail system and their solutions are both clear. Now is the time to act on this information, commit to a strong plan of action, and execute these badly needed repairs. Doing so will greatly decrease service disruptions, improve train speeds, and enhance reliability for daily commuters,” Pallone andthe NJ lawmakers wrote.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

Pallone’s letter was signed by NJ Representatives Menendez, Watson Coleman, Sherrill, Conaway, Pou, McIver, Gottheimer, Norcross and Van Drew.