NEWARK — In January, it will be Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line riders' turns to bear the brunt of NJ Transit schedule adjustments.

Amtrak announced on Monday a new rehabilitation project at New York Penn Station that will take place mostly on weekends starting Jan. 4  in the area of Track 15 and Track 18. The project will require concrete to be demolished and the replacement of steel hardware. The work is similar to that done around Track 10 last summer.

The project will also require some single-track closures on weekdays, which will impact NJ Transit commuters on five trains that will end or begin their runs in Hoboken.

The specific changes will be in effect Jan. 8 to May 28.

Morning changes

  • NJCL train 3216, the 6:11 a.m. New York-bound Long Branch departure, will now depart at 6:23 a.m. and will be diverted to Hoboken, renumbered as 2604
  • NEC train 3122, the 7:06 a.m. New York-bound departure from New Brunswick, will terminate at Newark Penn Station, renumbered as 5822.

Evening changes

  • NJCL train 3267, the 5:25 p.m. departure from New York Penn Station, will originate from Hoboken at 5:22 p.m., renumbered as 2609
  • NEC train 3171, the 5:43 p.m. departure from New York Penn Station, will originate at Newark Penn Station at 6:03 p.m., renumbered as 5869
  • NJCL train 3441, the 6:51 p.m. departure from New York Penn Station, will be cancelled

The times and stops on some other trains may also will be adjusted but no specific trains were identified Tuesday.

NJ Transit suggested that North Jersey Coast Line passengers pick up an Academy Bus from the PNC Bank Arts Center off the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel. Suburban Transit/Coach USA offers alternate bus service for Northeast Corridor riders in Middlesex and Mercer counties.

No cross-honoring will be in place for the alternatives, nor will fares be reduced as they were for the summer work on the Morris & Essex Line.

Executive Director Steven H. Santoro encouraged passengers to prepare their alternates so this phase of the project goes smoothly.

“I want to thank our customers in advance as we continue to support Amtrak’s efforts to renew critical infrastructure at Penn Station New York and avoid a repeat of the derailments we saw this past spring,” Santoro said.

How will the latest Penn Station project affect your commute? Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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