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Starting today (April 28), Amtrak has reduced its service between Albany-Rensselaer and New York City due to rehabilitation work on the East River Tunnel in New York City. The new schedule includes 10 northbound and 10 southbound trips daily, with two trains removed from service. This change is part of a three-year infrastructure improvement project aimed at modernizing critical infrastructure and ensuring long-term improvements to the Empire Service and other Amtrak services.
The Adirondack line, which connects New York City and Montreal, and the Maple Leaf line, which travels between Toronto and New York City, will be combined into one train from Albany to New York City. Passengers on these lines may experience extended dwell times in Albany, with layovers lasting up to 95 minutes, according to the Empire State Passengers Association (ESPA).
The project, which costs $1.6 billion, is largely funded by former President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Two of the four tunnel tubes were damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, necessitating the repairs. Amtrak President Roger Harris emphasized the importance of these upgrades for improving customer experience and trip reliability.
Despite the necessity of the project, the ESPA expressed concerns about the impact on Hudson Valley passengers, citing a disproportionate share of service reductions. Amtrak plans to add an additional car to 28 trains per week to increase seating capacity and may restore or modify service as construction progresses.