Penn Station needs expansion to boost train capacity, new report concludes

The only way to increase train capacity at Penn Station is to expand the Midtown Manhattan transit hub, a new report concludes. This week Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and NJ Transit released “Doubling Trans-Hudson Train Capacity at New York Penn Station,” an engineering feasibility study exploring four concepts to double train capacity without expanding the station’s size. Ultimately, none of these proposals were found feasible, marking a shift in focus towards options that would increase Penn Station’s footprint.

“This study demonstrates that to meet the needs of the region, we must expand the station beyond its existing footprint to deliver the passenger capacity promised by the Gateway Program,” Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, said.

“The feasibility study is part of a long-term collaboration between Amtrak, MTA, and NJ TRANSIT to seek ways to transform the busiest train station in the Western Hemisphere into a modern, world-class facility with the capacity to provide 200,000 more passenger trips.”

According to the study, the station and all of its infrastructure, including the North and East River Tunnels, currently operate at maximum capacity.

With the new Gateway Project, a series of infrastructure improvements aimed at increasing train capacity along the 10 miles between Newark Penn Station and NYP, significant expansion at Penn is crucial to meet current and anticipated passenger demands, enhance reliability, and support future cross-regional train services.

One of Gateway’s main goals is to double passenger train service between NY and NJ from 24 to 48 trains per hour or more during peak hours.

As part of Gateway, Amtrak has long planned to obtain and redevelop a full block of Midtown south of Penn Station; in 2020, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo backed the idea. The expansion would be the first at the station since its foundation was completed in 1910.

The block currently is home to apartment buildings, restaurants, and a Roman Catholic Church that is over 150 years old, according to the New York Times.

Now, Amtrak officials are less sure about their expansion plans, expressing uncertainty about whether they want the block south of the station or a piece of land to the north. The railroad agencies have formed a “station working advisory group” of more than 50 local leaders and transportation experts to consider expansion options.

The study centers on two alternatives with two design concepts each to determine their potential to at least double NYP’s existing rail capacity between NY and NJ in peak directions during rush hours.

An alternative called the “Under Penn Station” concept involves adding ten tracks beneath the existing station. The “Through-Running” alternatives include a “Full Reconstruction” option that would necessitate the complete demolition of current tracks and platforms, followed by the reconstruction of fewer tracks with wider platforms.

A “Limited Track and Platform Reconfiguration” option also includes wider platforms and fewer tracks but only requires partial demolition and reconstruction of existing tracks and platforms.

Currently, most trains that arrive at NYP carry passengers from Long Island or NJ, with NYC as their final destination. The trains then must either reverse course within the station or continue to a train yard on the west side of Manhattan or in Queens, according to the Times.

With through-running, Long Island Rail Road trains could continue to Newark Liberty International Airport in NJ, or a NJ Transit train could bring passengers to the Hamptons.

Despite support for through-running, the study concluded that it fell short of its primary goal of doubling the station’s capacity to 48 trains per hour. The proposals also faced several challenges related to constructability, operational safety, and connectivity, which made them unfeasible for consideration.

While there is no official price tag on the project, previous estimates have been as high as $16 billion.

Now, Amtrak and state transportation agencies intend to obtain federal permission to expand the station after creating a plan. The advisory board first met in September and is slated to convene again later this month.

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