Due to the East River Tunnels repair project causing a reduction in train services and an increase in fares between Albany and New York City (NYC), New York Governor Hochul announced on October 20th that the state government intervention has resulted in Amtrak resuming one round-trip train service starting from December 1st, with a ticket price cap of $99. Metro-North Railroad will also launch a new direct route to Albany in the spring of 2026, facilitating convenient transportation along the Hudson River corridor.
In response to the decreased Empire Service Corridor trains by Amtrak during the East River Tunnels repair period, the state government requested Metro-North Railroad to evaluate alternative solutions, such as opening a new route from Grand Central Terminal in NYC directly to Albany-Rensselaer Station in Albany, with a daily round-trip new service expected to start in the spring of 2026. Non-passenger test trains will commence later this year.
This new route will stop at existing Hudson Line stations from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie, and then at Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station.
The new services will fill the gap left by Amtrak. Trains departing from Grand Central Terminal in NYC are scheduled to leave in the morning, while return trains will depart from Albany in the afternoon, allowing passengers to arrive in NYC in the evening for nighttime activities. This will mark the first time Metro-North Railroad offers direct service connecting NYC and the capital region of Albany.
The Empire Service Corridor is the economic engine of the Hudson River, transporting two million passengers annually, with a record high ridership in 2024.
Governor Hochul stated in a release, “While Amtrak’s maintenance of the East River Tunnels is necessary, over the past five months, passengers traveling from Albany to NYC have had to endure sold-out trains and fare hikes… This new initiative will provide over two million passengers annually with more travel options and lower fares, saving them time and money.”
Hochul’s office announced that the newly opened Metro-North Railroad service will feature fixed ticket prices, in contrast to Amtrak’s variable ticket pricing, where some trips may exceed $100.
In May of this year, Amtrak adjusted the Empire Service Corridor timetable significantly in line with the East River Tunnels repair project, suspending three round-trip trains daily, resulting in reduced traffic between Albany and Penn Station in NYC.
To alleviate the impact, the state government collaborated with Amtrak to resume one daily round-trip train service starting from December 1st: Train 235 departing Penn Station at 3:15 PM and Train 238 departing Albany at 12:10 PM.
Regarding fares, Amtrak also announced the implementation of a fare cap mechanism for the first time: the standard coach fare for the Empire Service Corridor will not exceed $99, representing a approximately 10% decrease from some previous fares exceeding $109. Once Metro-North Railroad extends its services to Albany, its fares will compete with the lower pricing of Amtrak, offering the public more affordable options.
On December 1st, Amtrak will also reinstate the Lake Shore Limited train between Albany-Rensselaer and Boston, re-establishing direct rail service that previously only offered temporary bus service. This improvement will reconnect over 80,000 passengers using this line between Albany and Massachusetts.
In October, Metro-North Railroad officially launched enhanced express train service between Poughkeepsie and Grand Central Terminal on the Hudson Line, with a travel time of under 90 minutes. In September, MTA introduced the first batch of new Siemens Charger locomotives on the Hudson Line, providing the railroad with more horsepower, increased reliability, and reduced emissions.
Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek noted that the railroad service between Metro-North Railroad and Albany will “bridge a crucial gap in regional transportation.”
Amtrak President Roger Harris believes that the addition of affordable and improved train services between NYC and Albany “finally rewards the passion and patience of New York State residents and visitors.”
“This is good news for passengers and commuters in the Hudson Valley and the capital region. I commend Governor Hochul and Amtrak for their efforts to restore more Empire Rail services at a reasonable price,” said Senator Charles Schumer in a statement. “This decision is a win-win for commuters and the New York economy, paving the way for a more cost-effective and interconnected future.”