Amtrak to Resume Full NYC-Albany Trains in March, Putting Cheaper Alternative to Metro-North on Hold.
A major blow to commuters planning to travel between New York City and Albany on a more affordable route. Amtrak is reviving full train service along the Empire Service line in early March, following months of reduced schedules due to construction work on the East River Tunnel project. The restoration of complete service marks a significant shift for the rail operator, which had previously indicated that it would cut back on its routes.
The decision comes as a disappointment to those who were counting on an alternative option to Metro-North's more expensive fares. Plans to extend Metro-North into the Capital Region have been scrapped, with Amtrak citing concerns about capacity and scheduling conflicts.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed relief that commuters will regain reliable service, saying "our commuters cannot suffer disproportionately for regional construction projects." However, she did not rule out future expansion of Metro-North services north of Poughkeepsie if there is sufficient demand in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region.
Amtrak has confirmed that it is restoring full schedules with the help of improved equipment, which had been previously set aside for other projects. The work on the East River Tunnel project remains on schedule and within budget, with completion expected by 2027.
The news comes as a mixed bag for commuters who will now have access to reliable service once again, but also face higher costs than they might have anticipated.
A major blow to commuters planning to travel between New York City and Albany on a more affordable route. Amtrak is reviving full train service along the Empire Service line in early March, following months of reduced schedules due to construction work on the East River Tunnel project. The restoration of complete service marks a significant shift for the rail operator, which had previously indicated that it would cut back on its routes.
The decision comes as a disappointment to those who were counting on an alternative option to Metro-North's more expensive fares. Plans to extend Metro-North into the Capital Region have been scrapped, with Amtrak citing concerns about capacity and scheduling conflicts.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed relief that commuters will regain reliable service, saying "our commuters cannot suffer disproportionately for regional construction projects." However, she did not rule out future expansion of Metro-North services north of Poughkeepsie if there is sufficient demand in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region.
Amtrak has confirmed that it is restoring full schedules with the help of improved equipment, which had been previously set aside for other projects. The work on the East River Tunnel project remains on schedule and within budget, with completion expected by 2027.
The news comes as a mixed bag for commuters who will now have access to reliable service once again, but also face higher costs than they might have anticipated.
that Amtrak is bringing back full trains in March! I was really counting on that cheaper alternative to Metro-North 
. Now I'll have to shell out more cash for my commute. I mean, I know the East River Tunnel project is important and all 
, but can't we find a way to make it less of an impact on our daily lives? 
I've been trying to cut down on my train travel because of the prices, but now I'm stuck going back to paying more for Metro-North. Anyways, at least they're getting some new equipment and stuff 
, so maybe that's a silver lining?
so now us commutes in between nyc & albany gotta fork over more cash for metro-north 
anyway, governor hochul is right tho - commuters cant be held hostage by construction projects 
and it's like a total bummer for those who were looking forward to an affordable alternative to metro-north. i mean, plans to extend metro-north into the capital region got scrapped 
and now people are stuck with even more expensive fares 
. governor hochul is just trying to spin it tho saying commuters won't suffer disproportionately 
but let's be real we all know how that's gonna play out. anyhoo, at least amtrak is bringing back the full service with some fancy new equipment 
] Oh noooo! 
Commuters are gonna be stuck with Metro-North's pricey fares 
[A GIF of a clock ticking away 
]
] On the bright side, reliable service is back on track! 
]
