North River Tunnels, Railway tunnel system under Hudson River in Manhattan, United States.
The North River Tunnels are a two-tube railway system that connects New Jersey to Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan beneath the Hudson River. Each tube carries rail traffic in one direction and serves as the main crossing point for train and commuter rail services.
The Pennsylvania Railroad started building these tunnels in 1904 and finished the project in 1910 to provide direct rail access to Manhattan. Completing this project transformed how trains could move between New Jersey and New York.
These tunnels replaced ferry travel between the two states and created a permanent rail link that thousands of commuters rely on every day. They are woven into the daily routine of people moving between New Jersey and New York.
Access to this system is limited to passengers boarding or exiting at Pennsylvania Station. It helps to know that both Amtrak and commuter trains use these tunnels regularly throughout the day.
Hurricane Sandy flooded these tunnels with salt water in 2012, causing long-term structural damage that remains a challenge. The damage highlights how vulnerable infrastructure over a century old can be to major storms.
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