SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. â The Saratoga Chamber and members of the state Legislature hosted a press conference Friday morning announcing their intent to press the New York and Vermont Departments of Transportation for an earlier reopening of the Amtrak train station.
Present at the conference were representatives of the New York Racing Association, Rivers Casino, and the Empire State Passenger Association (ESPA). The gathering was the first time the train station had been opened in over a year. We re really excited to start talking about how to reopen the economy, said Chamber president Todd Shimkus.
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Amtrak has announced that passenger train service will restart on July 19, with the Ethan Allen Express line resuming its daily service. The Ethan Allen s current terminal points are Saratoga Springs and New York City, with many local stops in between. An extension of the Ethan Allen is already under construction, expected to be operational in 2022, that wil
50 years later, Amtrak s future is suddenly bright
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Amtrak Turboliner Train at Rensselaer Station, New York. July 22, 1976 (Times Union Archive)Times Union Historic ImagesShow MoreShow Less
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A New York City destined Amtrak train waits at the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Rensselaer, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)Will Waldron/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
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Interior of Amtrak Turbo Train. Rensselaer. July 23, 1976 (Times Union Archive)Times Union Historic ImagesShow MoreShow Less
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Line for Amtrak ticket counter in Rensselaer, New York train station. November 10, 1981 (Raymond B. Summers/Times Union Archive)Raymond B. Summers/Times Union Historic ImagesShow MoreShow Less
On the verge of its 50th anniversary, the outlook for Amtrak has brightened considerably. The passenger railroad has received federal support to restore daily service on a dozen long-distance routes, order new locomotives and passenger cars, and extend services on existing routes, members of the rail advocacy group Empire State Passengers Association (ESPA) were told at their annual meeting this past weekend. Because of the pandemic, the meeting was held virtually. Among the improvements: The Ethan Allen Express between New York City and Rutland via Albany will be extended to Middlebury and Burlington, Vt., in early 2022, according to Lucas Irvine, road foreman of engines for Amtrak’s Empire Corridor. Construction of a tunnel through downtown Middlebury and other track and platform work are expected to be completed during this year’s construction season, said Christopher Parker, executive director of the Vermont Rail Action Network.
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A New York-bound Amtrak train prepares to leave the Albany-Rensselaer train station on Monday Feb. 25, 2019, in Rensselaer, N.Y. Projects to improve passenger flow to the platforms are planned. (Will Waldron/Times Union)Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
On the verge of its 50th anniversary, the outlook for Amtrak has brightened considerably.
The passenger railroad has received federal support to restore daily service on a dozen long-distance routes, order new locomotives and passenger cars, and extend services on existing routes, members of the rail advocacy group Empire State Passengers Association (ESPA) were told at their annual meeting this past weekend.
120-year-old Albany rail bridge gets no state mention
Cuomo s transportation plan does invest in many other rail, plane, transit systems
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Work crews open the Livingston Avenue Bridge in this photo from 2011. Passenger rail advocates say they re concerned the 120-year-old bridge could fail, cutting off rail passenger service upstate beyond Rensselaer. (John Carl D Annibale / Times Union)John Carl D AnnibaleShow MoreShow Less
Governor Andrew Cuomo drives FDR s Packard with Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner of DOT, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, over the finished flyover for the new exit 3 off of Interstate 87, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, in Colonie. The new ramp is part of improvements at and around Albany International Airport.(Paul Buckowski/Times Union)Paul Buckowski/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less