Darn portal bridge

I'm on the 550 into the city and we are stopped short of secaucus because of the portal bridge.  I don't know if this will cascade into later trains, but check your schedules.

if it is open then it is darn Coast Guard.  It needs to be opened when they say to open it. 

bramzzoinks said:

if it is open then it is darn Coast Guard.  It needs to be opened when they say to open it. 

Coast Guard rules give marine traffic  precedence since boats predate trains.  If anything, the Coast Guard has given Amtrak extraordinary lenience, allowing the bridge to remain closed during rush hour. The rules are clear to everyone, and the CG doesn't capriciously demand the bridge opened for their amusement.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/33/117.723

Apparently the bulk of Portal openings is for a barge carrying sludge.  Odds are it was it was passing through at the appointed time and the bridge suffered its usual problems. NJ Transit claims trains were back on schedule around 7:20.

http://www.northjersey.com/mobile/news/when-bergen-county-sludge-meets-rusty-amtrak-bridge-both-sides-lose-1.1275791?page=all