“This is the mega-project we are engaged in right now, Penn Access, and it is the linchpin of the plan to create a truly integrated regional railroad system,” Lieber said. Lieber said overcoming the delays is central to the larger reconstruction of Penn Station. MTA documents note that the project has also been slowed by the need to gain approval for entry into Con Edison facilities. Now there are delays in plans to create a new path for the MTA’s other commuter railroad, Metro-North, which serves riders in the northern suburbs and Connecticut.

Construction on the hub began in 2001, but completion of this largest MTA project ever ran into repeated delays. LIRR riders began arriving last week at Grand Central Madison, the deep rail terminal more than 15 stories beneath Grand Central. More than 800 trains pass daily through the Sunnyside junction, which serves LIRR and Amtrak trains and which links to Grand Central Terminal.

In 2018, the MTA blamed Amtrak for a $955 million cost overrun on East Side Access, saying the railroad had, for several years, not provided enough help in the rebuilding of the Harold Interlocking in Queens, the largest rail intersection in the United States. “But if we are successful and Amtrak provides the access and support that is needed, the project team believes the delays experienced to date can be mitigated to bring the project back to the original schedule.” Blame It on the Train

“There is a lot of work ahead of us,” said Thomas McGuinness, senior vice president at MTA Construction and Development.

MTA officials said Monday that the plan has run into “significant construction delays” because of “limited access” onto Amtrak-owned property, but said they still are hoping to meet a March 2027 “substantial completion date” with additional support from Amtrak and CSX, the freight railroad company. Members and sponsors make THE CITY possible.

Mta lirr schedule