Metro-North’s Port Jervis line suffered such “catastrophic” damage from Hurricane Irene that large swaths will have to be completely rebuilt, a time-consuming and expensive process that will likely take months, the MTA said yesterday.
“There are sections of track literally suspended in the air, and in many places we will have to build a new railroad from scratch, from the foundation to the tracks to the signals,” said MTA Chairman Jay Walder, who toured damaged areas.
Walder invoked emergency powers that will let the agency cut through red tape, allowing the waiver of procurement rules and the immediate hiring of outside consultants.
Still, it will likely take months to resume normal service, one official said.
Walder is also petitioning the feds to foot the bill for some of the work.
The MTA is using buses to accommodate customers on the line, which runs from Port Jervis to Suffern, where trains continue to Hoboken along NJ Transit tracks.
Meanwhile, the LIRR said last night that it is restoring full service this morning.