Key facts
- New Jersey is preparing contingency plans for potential Amtrak disruptions during the World Cup.
- The state anticipates significant strain on transportation infrastructure.
- Contingency measures include deploying ferries and over 500 buses.
- These resources aim to transport fans from New York City to MetLife Stadium if Amtrak fails.
- New Jersey and New York transit leaders have voiced concerns about Amtrak's operational reliability.
New Jersey is implementing contingency plans to address potential disruptions to Amtrak services during the upcoming World Cup, anticipating significant strain on its transportation infrastructure. State officials, including Kolluri, have expressed concerns about Amtrak's ability to handle the increased passenger volume, with one official stating, 'we’re going to need a bigger boat.'
To mitigate potential issues at Penn Station and along its surrounding tracks, New Jersey has ordered ferries with a capacity of 600 people each and over 500 buses. These resources are intended to transport soccer fans from New York City to Weehawken, New Jersey, and then onward to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford if Amtrak services are compromised. The World Cup, with the lion's share of fans expected to stay in New York City, will feature eight matches, including the final, at MetLife Stadium.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA CEO Janno Lieber have also publicly criticized Amtrak's performance in recent weeks, citing issues like fires at Penn Station attributed to contractors. They emphasized that without reliable Amtrak service, executing a proper plan for the global soccer governing body, FIFA, would be impossible.