For years, transportation planners in New York City have been envisioning a unified regional transit system that would eliminate the need for commuters to transfer between different agencies and states. However, this idea has been dismissed by elected officials on both sides of the Hudson River due to logistical and political challenges. But now, with the renovation of Penn Station and the construction of new rail tunnels under the Hudson River, there is a rare opportunity to reorganize the entire rail network.

While most of the focus has been on the aesthetic improvements to Penn Station, there is a more pressing issue at hand. With the completion of the $16 billion Gateway project in 2035, the number of trains running between New York and New Jersey is expected to double. This raises the question of where all these trains will go.

One solution that has been proposed is “through-running”, where trains from NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road would pass through Penn Station rather than stopping and turning around. This concept has been successfully implemented in other cities, such as London, where it has increased efficiency and connectivity.

Currently, Amtrak trains already through-run at Penn Station, as do some NJ Transit trains during the morning rush hour. Likewise, the LIRR stores its trains in Manhattan’s West Side Yards until it’s time to take passengers back home during the evening rush hour. With through-running, commuters could potentially travel from Newark to Montauk or New Haven to Secaucus without having to transfer between different train lines.

However, there are several challenges that would need to be addressed before through-running can become a reality. This includes re-engineering parts of Penn Station’s tracks and platforms, ensuring compatibility between different train systems and equipment, and negotiating new agreements with labor unions. Additionally, a recent report from the Regional Plan Association argues that the current platforms at Penn Station are too narrow to accommodate the increased flow of passengers that through-running would bring.

Despite these challenges, there is support for through-running among commuters and transportation experts. Some argue that it would be a cost-effective and vital solution for New York’s evolving economy, providing more regular and dependable service across the region.

However, the idea of through-running is not without its critics. Some believe that expanding Penn Station’s platforms to enable through-running would be too disruptive and costly, requiring the relocation of pillars that support Madison Square Garden. Others argue that it would be a difficult and time-consuming process to integrate two of the busiest railroads in the country.

Ultimately, the success of through-running at Penn Station will depend on the ability of railroad officials to overcome these challenges and reach a consensus on how to best utilize the station’s limited resources. But if successful, through-running has the potential to greatly improve the daily commute for the 600,000 people who pass through Penn Station each weekday. It could also make travel more seamless and efficient for those traveling between New York and New Jersey.