ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Amtrak will restore full daily service between the Capital Region and New York City ahead of schedule in early March, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. But the return of the Empire service signals the end of a planned expansion of the Metro-North commuter railroad north of Poughkeepsie.
Returning are three of Amtrak’s Empire Service round trips from New York City to Albany that had disappeared to make way for repairs at the East River Tunnels. These tunnels connecting Penn Station to Queens and other destinations farther north were damaged in 2012’s Superstorm Sandy.
A spokesperson for the governor explained that, because Amtrak and freight carrier CSX control the tracks north of Poughkeepsie, the state needed their approval. With Amtrak’s own trains returning, they couldn’t justify a Metro North replacement.
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“We did not voluntarily choose to not pursue this,” said Deputy Communications Director Sean Butler. “This was a decision made by Amtrak.”…