Gov. Hochul Calls on Amtrak to Restore Empire Service Amid East River Tunnel Repairs, Seeks Alternatives to Minimize Disruptions for New York Travelers

As the East River Tunnel enters a substantial rehabilitation phase, Governor Kathy Hochul is pressing Amtrak to reconsider its plan to trim down the Empire Service line’s schedule, a major artery for state travelers. The scheduling revisions are poised to eliminate three daily round trips from New York Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer Station starting this week. Echoing the concerns of frequent rail commuters, Hochul has requested the service be restored, emphasizing the importance of keeping New York’s public connected throughout the duration of the construction project. “Empire Service trains are receiving a disproportionate share of impacts to schedules and it is critical that you maximally restore service and protect New York’s riding public while the project progresses,” she stated in a letter to Amtrak, as reported by

ABC7NY

.

Amtrak’s announcement earlier in the year mentioned plans to maintain “the vast majority of service”, however, some long-distance and state supported services will undergo modifications, and Northeast Regional and Acela train schedules will experience slight alterations. Despite not making the new schedules public yet, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams stated, “Amtrak and the railroad partners are coordinating closely to mitigate service impacts and will provide detailed service information via numerous channels in the coming months,” according to

ABC7NY

. The changes are a response to the multi-year construction project expected to limit train traffic from Queens’ maintenance yards to Penn Station.

In a different take, the

Times Union

reported that Steve Strauss, executive director of the Empire State Passengers Association, has raised concerns about the impact of the changes on routes extending beyond the immediate New York City vicinity, indicating travelers heading to Montreal might face layovers exceeding 90 minutes. The ongoing pushback underscores the Empire Service’s vital role in regional transportation, with trains having transported over 2 million passengers during the current fiscal year, setting records for both ridership and revenue, as highlighted by Governor Hochul’s office.

Hochul’s suggestions to mitigate the disruptions include rerouting some trains to Grand Central Terminal or other viable alternatives and proposing an increase in the New York City-Albany trains to six-car configurations, thereby accommodating more passengers per trip. “For these reasons, (state transportation) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez recently wrote to you offering several mitigation strategies that could be effective in maintaining ridership throughout the duration of the project,” Hochul penned in her letter. The state’s transportation commissioner addressed her proposal directly to Stephen Gardner, Amtrak’s chief operating officer, on November 8, advocating for these adjustments if cancelled trips cannot be fully restored, as shared by the

Times Union

.

Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!