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Amtrak Service Between Albany and NYC to Be Restored
Governor Hochul announces full Empire Service train schedule will return after service reductions tied to tunnel work.
Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:31pm
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Amtrak will be restoring all Empire Service trains between New York Penn Station and Albany-Rensselaer later this year. The service reductions were tied to critical tunnel rehabilitation work in New York City, but Hochul says nearly three million New Yorkers rely on this service between the Capital Region and New York City each year.
Why it matters
The restoration of full Amtrak service between Albany and New York City is crucial for commuters and travelers who rely on this transportation link. The service reductions had caused significant disruptions, and Hochul's intervention ensures this vital connection will be maintained during the infrastructure project.
The details
According to Hochul, Amtrak will be restoring the full Empire Service schedule that was in place before the East River Tunnel rehabilitation project began. An Amtrak representative stated that by taking advantage of schedule changes to support the infrastructure work, the necessary equipment has been identified to fully restore the previous service level.
- Amtrak service will be restored in early March 2026.
The players
Governor Kathy Hochul
The governor of New York who announced the restoration of full Amtrak service between Albany and New York City.
Amtrak
The national passenger railroad service that will be restoring the full Empire Service train schedule between Albany and New York Penn Station.
Justin Vonashek
The president of Metro-North, who expressed gratitude for the governor's efforts to restore Amtrak service and stated that Metro-North is ready to explore options for more and more affordable service up the Hudson River.
What they’re saying
“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.”
— Governor Kathy Hochul
“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.”
— Amtrak representative
“We're grateful for the governor's successful effort to restore Amtrak service to Albany. Metro-North stands ready to explore options for more—and more affordable—service up the Hudson River.”
— Justin Vonashek, Metro-North President
What’s next
Amtrak plans to fully restore the Empire Service train schedule between Albany and New York City in early March 2026.
The takeaway
The restoration of full Amtrak service between Albany and New York City is a significant victory for commuters and travelers who rely on this vital transportation link. Governor Hochul's intervention ensured that the service reductions tied to infrastructure work would not disproportionately impact the region, and Amtrak's commitment to restoring the previous schedule demonstrates the importance of this connection.
