Amtrak Restores Routes, Enhances Albany To NYC Travel

If you’ve had a hard time booking an Amtrak ticket from Albany to New York City, help is coming.

Starting next spring, Metro-North Railroad will begin running between Albany-Rensselaer and Grand Central Terminal. It will be one round trip a day, but it’s a big step. It's the first time Metro-North has ever connected the Capital Region and Manhattan.

Governor Kathy Hochul says this new option will make life easier for riders who’ve been dealing with fewer trains and higher fares while Amtrak repairs its tunnels in New York City. Amtrak will also bring back one of its suspended trips on December 1st, giving travelers a little more breathing room.

Amtrak carries about two million passengers a year along the Hudson Valley, and demand has been through the roof. Metro-North’s new service should help take some pressure off and give people another way to get to Grand Central instead of Penn Station. The trip south will leave Albany in the morning, with a return in the afternoon.

There’s even more good news for anyone watching their budget. Amtrak is putting a $99 cap on coach fares between Albany and New York City. And on December 1st, the train service between Albany and Boston will also return, replacing the temporary bus route.

After months of sold-out trains and long waits, it looks like Capital Region travelers will finally be getting some smoother rides ahead.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Rolls Through The Capital Region For a Great Cause

It had been three years since the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train rolled through the Capital Region. It made three stops; Mechanicville, Saratoga Springs, and Fort Edward. The first was Mechanicville on a rainy Sunday night. This is where I enjoyed the festive holiday train. They are traveling across the country to 106 stops. At each stop, they play live music and collect donations for the local food banks. Country Artist Lindsay Ell was the musical entertainment and she was awesome. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train also presented the Mechanicville Community Center with a check for $3500 to help restock the food bank. Even though the weather wasn't ideal, a couple of hundred families joined the fun.

Gallery Credit: Chrissy Cavotta Townsquare Media

Source: New Train Option from Albany to NYC Could Save Riders Money and Time