Amtrak gets the job done on Line 2

Pinch us, please.

Amtrak has finished work on the first of two East River Tunnel tubes, just a few weeks after the expected July completion date. The tube, known as Line 2, reopened to Long Island Rail Road train traffic Monday and will provide railroad customers with a repaired, modernized train tunnel — one hopefully less susceptible to breakdowns, electrical problems and other concerns.

Now, Amtrak, the national passenger rail system which owns and operates the tunnels, will have to deliver the same success story for the second tube, known as Line 1, which will start its own closure and rehabilitation project this fall.

Monday’s reopening comes nearly 14 years after the train tunnels were badly damaged by corrosive saltwater during Superstorm Sandy. Years of finger-pointing between Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority followed. It was only after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led the fight for funding, ultimately securing more than $1.3 billion in federal dollars, that a plan fell into place. Even then the agency fighting wasn’t over, as MTA officials argued the tunnels should be repaired during overnights and weekends, rather than fully shutting down one tunnel at a time.

Amtrak won that argument, and so far, it seems to have been the right call. It hasn’t been perfect; the LIRR had to reduce service to accommodate tube closures, and there’ve been several incidents in which a tube out of service exacerbated delays. But it’s been better than predicted, especially thanks to Grand Central Madison. And the commuting horror stories likely would’ve been worse if Amtrak had to reopen the tunnel every Monday morning after a weekend of work.

Amtrak deserves credit for getting the first half of the work done without a massive delay, cost overruns or widespread trouble for LIRR riders. It’s a rare round of applause for the troubled system, which previously lacked the urgency and robust workforce required to get a project of this size and scope done right.

But it’s not over yet. Amtrak must take lessons learned into the next tube, to make its work more efficient and productive. Perhaps most importantly, Amtrak must try even harder to limit disruptions to LIRR passengers. The rail system had promised backup plans to address issues and limit delays. That didn’t always happen as smoothly as it could have. A May electrical fire in the tunnel, for instance, caused hundreds of delays when a dangling metal piece on an Amtrak Acela train hit the third rail. Prior to that, an LIRR train hit debris in the tunnel, causing disruptions. Maintaining and inspecting the trains and open tubes could reduce such problems. Hopefully, the newly rehabilitated tube will improve service, too. Amtrak and the MTA also must communicate better, to avoid squabbles that hurt riders’ interests.

There’s a light at the end of the East River Tunnel’s troubles. But Amtrak now has to see the work through to its final destination. Only then will LIRR riders truly see the benefits.