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Court Ruling Against Amtrak Stalls Penn Access Project Timeline in Bronx

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff denied Amtrak's injunction request to regain track access from Metro-North, a ruling impacting the timeline of the Penn Access project in the Bronx.

By Colin Percy · May 26, 2026

A federal judge has denied Amtrak's request for a preliminary injunction that would have compelled Metro-North Railroad to restore access to its tracks for non-passenger train operations. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff allows Metro-North, an agency of the MTA, to continue blocking Amtrak’s access while the underlying legal dispute proceeds. The conflict stems from a disagreement over infrastructure damage claims, track usage agreements, and service outages required for critical rail improvements.

The litigation directly impacts the Penn Access project, a major infrastructure initiative that involves constructing four new stations along the Hell Gate Line in the Bronx. MTA officials report that ongoing disputes with Amtrak over track access have caused significant delays, pushing the projected completion date of the project to 2030 at the earliest.

Companies mentioned

owner

Metro-North Railroad

owner

Amtrak

owner

MTA

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