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Metro-North to extend service to Albany, competing with Amtrak service
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 20, 2025
Modified Oct 20, 2025
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Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 20, 2025
Modified Oct 20, 2025
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The MTA plans to extend Metro-North Railroad service north to the Albany area, offering a once-a-day round trip between Grand Central Terminal and the Capital Region.
Hochul on Monday announced the northward expansion will launch in the early spring, partially filling in for reduced Amtrak service as the national railway repairs the East River rail tunnels heading into Manhattan. The new trip will serve as an alternative to Amtrak trains that run between Penn Station and the Capital Region.
The expanded service area means Metro-North’s Hudson Line will extend roughly 80 miles beyond its current northernmost point of Poughkeepsie. The roundtrip train will depart Grand Central for the Albany-Rensselaer station mid-morning and return to Grand Central in the afternoon, according to the governor’s office.
The route will follow the existing Hudson Line stops from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie before making stops in Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany-Rensselaer, according to the MTA. The transit agency hasn’t yet set an exact cost for the trip, but expects it to be similar to the lower end of Amtrak’s one-way tickets from New York City to Albany — which are $38.
Hochul’s office said the fares for the new Metro-North service will be fixed, unlike Amtrak’s trains, which have variable prices that can exceed $100 on some trips.
Hochul’s announcement comes as MTA officials have publicly feuded with Amtrak over the national railroad’s ongoing shutdown of one of its East River tunnels for repairs. MTA Chair Janno Lieber for years called on Amtrak to repair the tunnel on nights and weekends, rather than close it entirely while the work is underway.
But Amtrak and Metro-North are both on board with Monday’s announcement, with Metro-North President Justin Vonashek and Amtrak President Roger Harris standing on stage beside Hochul. As part of an agreement, Amtrak will restore one of two daily trips between New York City and Albany-Rensselaer that the national railway cut earlier this year amid the tunnel repairs.
“Extending service north of Poughkeepsie restores capacity and improves access for customers traveling to Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany,” Metro-North President Justin Vonashek said. “It’s about connecting more people to opportunity, whether it’s work, school or just adventure.”
Amtrak has also agreed to cap its train fare for trips between New York City and Albany at $99 each way, according to Hochul’s office.
The expanded service area marks the first time Metro-North will provide service from Grand Central to Albany, though a predecessor — the New York Central Railroad – did until 1967, according to the governor’s office. Amtrak, meanwhile, used to run trains from Albany to Grand Central until the early 1990s, when the Empire Corridor terminal shifted to Penn Station.
Hochul thanked Amtrak and Metro-North for working together to restore service while the tunnel repairs continue. She said the MTA anticipates the new Metro-North service will be “revenue neutral” — meaning the collected fares will cover the costs of expansion.
“We’ve found a path forward, and I’m very excited about this announcement,” she said.
This story has been updated with new information.
Tagged
Kathy Hochul
Politics
new york city
new york state
transportation
Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
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