PLATTSBURGH – North Country officials are pleased to see the governor joining the effort to get Amtrak to improve service in the Northeast Corridor.
“We are very pleased that Governor (Kathy) Hochul has responded so strongly to this,” said Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce.
“They have now heard loudly from the Governor, our Congressman and Senators and a number of state legislators that they need to hit the pause button and find a way to reduce the impact of this upcoming service disruption between Albany and New York. The question now is whether or not they listen.”
LETTER
New York Governor Hochul sent a letter to Amtrak’s senior executives urging them to reinstate the canceled Empire Service, which serves 2 million passengers annually in New York State.
Hochul emphasized her support for the maintenance work, but urged Amtrak to reconsider the cuts and explore a range of viable alternatives to mitigate the disruption.
Hochul said that while she supports the rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel in New York City, she is concerned about the disruptions that have occurred as a result of the project.
Amtrak’s decision to reduce its schedule by two daily round trips between the Hudson Valley and New York City, as well as other schedule changes, will have serious consequences for Empire Service trains, the governor said.
“Empire Service trains will bear a disproportionate share of the impact on schedules and it is critical that you maximize service restoration and protect New York’s riding public as the project moves forward,” she said in her letter to Anthony Coscia , Amtrak’s chairman of the board and Stephen. J. Gardner, general manager of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Hochul said Empire Service is supported by the New York State Department of Transportation and will carry more than two million passengers by 2024, setting records for ridership and revenue.
“The reduction in service, in addition to operational changes to the Maple Leaf and Adirondack lines, will have a direct impact on both and make it more difficult for New Yorkers to get around the state,” her letter said.
The Adirondack Line serves travelers from New York City to Montreal and back. It has been disrupted several times since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, much to the dismay of local officials who have repeatedly urged Amtrak to restore service and make improvements.
JONES CONCERNED
State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) said it is encouraging to see the governor pushing Amtrak to restore the Empire Service train and keep the issue at the forefront.
“This closure will have a direct impact on the North Country as it will delay Adirondack service between New York City and Montreal, but will also impact the entire state,” Jones said.
“I have been working to restore these services over the past few weeks by meeting with Amtrak officials and writing letters to NYSDOT, USDOT and Amtrak. With more than 2 million passengers on the Empire Service train, it is imperative that we continue to work with the Governor and other state and industry leaders to restore these services.”
Hochul reminded Amtrak that the state has offered “several mitigation strategies that could be effective in maintaining ridership throughout the life of the project, including proposals to restore service by deploying some trains to Grand Central Terminal or through another viable alternative, or by expanding the trains serving the New York City-Albany market to six cars.
“I urge you to consider these measures, or other viable alternatives presented by numerous stakeholders, and find a solution that immediately mitigates the impact on this line, fully restores service and supports the millions of passengers who depend on this crucial mode of transport.”
