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Amtrak restores NYC-Albany trains, dropping cheaper Metro-North alternative
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 27, 2026
Modified Jan 27, 2026
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By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 27, 2026
Modified Jan 27, 2026
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Amtrak is restoring full train service between New York City and Albany beginning in March, but at a cost to commuters hoping for a more affordable ride.
The move means a plan to extend Metro-North to the Capital Region will no longer move forward, after Amtrak said it would not allow the temporary service to proceed. The proposal would have offered cheaper, fixed-fare trips along the Hudson Line.
Amtrak originally announced last April that it would significantly cut some of its train service between New York City and Albany for several years to accommodate construction on the East River Tunnel, which was badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy.
The announcement drew criticism from the estimated 3 million New Yorkers who use Amtrak each year to travel between the city, the Hudson Valley and the Albany area.
The reduced service also prompted pushback from former Mayor Eric Adams, other elected officials and the MTA, which shares some of its tracks with Amtrak.
In a statement Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said that beyond returning to full service earlier than expected, the Empire Service line will soon be able to accommodate more passengers than it could before the tunnel work began last spring.
“I have been clear that our commuters cannot suffer disproportionately for regional construction projects and am glad Amtrak has heeded my call and committed to running full service for the duration of the project and beyond,” Hochul said.
Hochul added that she remains open to expanding Metro-North service north of Poughkeepsie in the future, if there’s enough demand in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region.
"Amtrak is pleased to restore full Empire Service schedules in partnership with Governor Hochul and NYSDOT, giving New Yorkers in the Hudson Valley the reliable service they know and expect," Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said in a statement.
Abrams continued, "By taking advantage of schedule changes in place to support major infrastructure projects on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak has identified the equipment necessary to fully restore the Empire Service schedule that was in place before the East River Tunnel rehabilitation project began, and is moving to fully restore service in early March."
He added that the East River Tunnel project remains on schedule and within budget, with completion expected in 2027.
This story has been updated with new information.
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new york city
new york state
transportation
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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