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Amtrak cuts some Hudson Valley trains starting Monday due to East River Tunnel repairs
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Apr 28, 2025
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Catalina Gonella
Published Apr 28, 2025
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Amtrak will reduce and adjust train service between Albany and New York City starting Monday, April 28, as it kicks off a multi-year East River Tunnel rehabilitation project.
The changes include the suspension of two Empire Service trains — Train 235, a 12:10 p.m. departure from Albany and Train 238, a 3:15 p.m. departure from Penn Station. Ten round trips will still be available daily, though some will run on adjusted schedules.
Amtrak said the schedule changes are necessary to accommodate the three-year infrastructure improvement project to restore two of the four tubes that make up the East River Tunnel, which were badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy. The tunnel, which connects New York City to Long Island and New England, is used by Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit trains. Officials said the $1.6 billion investment will improve reliability throughout the Northeast Corridor.
While Amtrak is adding an extra car to 28 trains each week to provide additional seating, Hudson Valley passengers may face fewer options and busier trains for the foreseeable future as crews work to repair the damaged tunnels. The Adirondack and Maple Leaf trains will also be combined into a single train between New York City and Albany, with an extended layover in Albany.
“These significant upgrades will modernize critical infrastructure and ensure long-term improvements to the Empire Service and other Amtrak and commuter services for a better customer experience and more reliable trip,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said when the schedule changes were announced in February.
Leading up to the construction work, experts warned that Amtrak’s plan could strain LIRR and NJ Transit service, though Amtrak said it plans to minimize disruptions.
Passenger advocates are also raising concerns about how the modified schedule will affect riders. Bruce Becker, communications director of the Empire State Passengers Association, said the reduced service means more passengers will encounter sold-out trains, especially during busy periods.
“We are hopeful that, even though the reductions are starting tomorrow, that Amtrak will continue to look at alternatives, over the next couple of months of perhaps, adjusting schedules or bring some trains back once construction gets underway and they see the full impact on both ridership and on their operations,” he said.
Becker said the group is particularly concerned about the combination of the Adirondack and Maple Leaf trains, which leaves riders waiting at the Albany-Rensselaer station for an hour-and-a-half layover.
The first fully restored tunnel is expected to open in late 2026, when construction on the second tunnel will begin. The project is set to be completed in 2028, with both tunnels fully restored.
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Catalina Gonella
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