Penn Station Capacity Expansion
Supporting Additional Northeast Corridor Capacity for a New Era of Passenger Rail
Greater train capacity for Penn Station is needed to accommodate existing and anticipated passenger demand. Long-overdue infrastructure improvements are being planned as part of the Gateway Program to allow increased peak-hour train service into Penn Station from New Jersey and points south/west. To accommodate the steady growth of ridership along the Northeast Corridor and in the west-of-Hudson commuter market, the Penn Station Capacity Expansion Project will increase the rail capacity of tracks and platforms serving Penn Station.
Key elements of the Penn Station Capacity Expansion Project could include:
Additional tracks and platforms to increase station rail capacity;
New concourses, amenities, and services for passengers (such as ticketing, waiting areas, restrooms, and retail space);
A new headhouse over the additional track and platform area to provide new entrances to the station and a visible civic presence;
Non-public facing space for railroad functions (such as station building maintenance, storage, and employee facilities).
*Project details to be developed as engineering and environmental analysis advances
Project Status and Next Steps
A critical early step in the planning and design process for improving Penn Station is evaluating alternatives to expand rail capacity at the station. Amtrak, MTA, and NJ TRANSIT (the Railroad Partners) have conducted an engineering study that assesses the feasibility of alternatives that aim to at least double trans-Hudson train service during peak periods without expanding the footprint of the existing Penn Station.
The Feasibility Study evaluates two potential alternatives that aim to at least double trans-Hudson train capacity at Penn Station within the footprint of the existing station:
Alternative 1.
Under Penn: Aim to at least double trans-Hudson rail capacity by adding a new track and platform level below the existing track level of Penn Station.
Alternative 2.
Through-Running: Aim to at least double trans-Hudson rail capacity by converting Penn Station to all through-running service within the existing footprint of the station.
The Railroad Partners developed design concepts for these two alternatives and evaluated them against a number of criteria, including but not limited to: geotechnical constructability, operational performance (i.e., at least a doubling of trans-Hudson rail capacity), and compatibility with a future vision for cross-regional rail.
The Feasibility Study concludes that none of the studied alternatives satisfy the established criteria and a future analysis will be needed to evaluate alternatives that expand the footprint of Penn Station.
The Railroad Partners are continuing to advance early design and engineering work and have begun stakeholder and public outreach to prepare for the initiation of the environmental review process for the Penn Station Capacity Expansion Project. This includes the convening of the Station Working Advisory Group in September 2024. Visit the Station Working Advisory Group page for details.
Check back on this page soon for more information.
Project Documents
Doubling Trans-Hudson Train Capacity at Penn Station: An Engineering Feasibility Study of Alternatives Within the Existing Station Footprint
Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Planning for Regional Connectivity
Chapter 3 – Evaluation Methodology
Chapter 4 – Technical Background
Chapter 5 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 6 – Summary
Appendix A – Alternative 1 – Under Penn Station Supporting Documentation
Appendix B – Alternative 2 – Through-Running Supporting Documentation
Get in Touch
For additional inquiries or comments about this project, please complete the Penn Station Capacity Expansion comment form below.
Penn Station Capacity Expansion Comment Form
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