Empire Service (Amtrak)
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| Empire Service | |
 GE Genesis P32AC-DM #704 pulls Train 235 into Poughkeepsie en route to Albany-Rensselaer. |
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| Info | |
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| Type | Inter-city rail |
| System | Amtrak (1971-Present), Penn Central (1968-1971), New York Central (until 1968) |
| Termini | New York Penn Station Niagara Falls, NY |
| Service routes | New York - Albany, New York - Niagara Falls, New York - Toronto (Maple Leaf) |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Amtrak, Argent Ventures, CSX (track) |
| Operator(s) | Amtrak |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 460 miles (740 km) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
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The Empire Service is a train service operated by Amtrak within the state of New York in the United States. Trains on the line provide frequent daily service along the 460-mile (740 km) Empire Corridor between New York City and Niagara Falls, New York. Service on the line is supplemented by Metro-North, a commuter train network operating across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with the northern terminus of its Hudson Line at the Poughkeepsie station.
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[edit] Services
Between the actual Empire Service itself and the cross-listed trips (see below) almost hourly weekday service is available on the southern portion of the line between Penn Station and Albany-Rensselaer, with three trips daily continuing to Niagara Falls, including the Maple Leaf.
Several other Amtrak services using the Empire Corridor are listed on Empire Service schedules:
- The Maple Leaf makes all stops along the entire length of the Empire Corridor, continuing to Toronto.
- The Lake Shore Limited to Chicago uses the Empire Corridor between Penn Station and Buffalo, NY, but skips several stops.
- The Adirondack to Montreal and Ethan Allen Express to Rutland, Vermont also serve the southern portion of the line between New York and Albany.
[edit] History
The route was formerly the Water Level Route of the New York Central Railroad to Buffalo and then the former Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad.
On April 7, 1991, all Amtrak Empire Service trains started using the new Empire Connection into Penn Station, New York. Prior to that change, all passenger trains from Albany and beyond went into Grand Central Terminal which forced passengers going beyond New York to transfer via shuttle bus, taxicab or via the New York City Subway to reach Penn Station. The move also saved Amtrak the expense of operating two stations in New York.
[edit] Amenities
- All services feature Reserved Coach seating.
- Business Class seating is offered on all trains except the Lake Shore Limited.
- New York to Albany service does not have on-board dining.
- New York to Niagara Falls and New York to Toronto service features a cafe car serving light meals, snacks, beer, wine, and soft-drinks.
- Full-service sit down dining is available on the Lake Shore Limited (except on the portion of the trip between New York and Albany.)
[edit] Route details
The Empire Service operates over CSX Transportation, Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak trackage:
- CSX Niagara Subdivision, Buffalo Terminal Subdivision, Rochester Subdivision, Mohawk Subdivision, Selkirk Subdivision, and Hudson Subdivision, Niagara Falls to Poughkeepsie (Amtrak-owned between Hoffmans and Schenectady)
- Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line, Poughkeepsie to Spuyten Duyvil
- Amtrak Empire Connection, Spuyten Duyvil to Penn Station
The Empire Service utilizes dual-mode locomotives due to a ban on diesel locomotive operations in the Penn Station tunnel. An "on the fly" power change from diesel to third rail (or vice-versa) takes place once the train enters the tunnel near Penn Station.
[edit] Station stops
[edit] High Speed Rail
The Empire Service has been a long standing candidate for high-speed rail and electrification. The need for high speed rail service has been addressed by former Governor George Pataki, former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, and members of the New York State Assembly representing upstate regions. Other politicians have asked that high speed rail be introduced along the Empire Corridor, diminishing the time for New York City - Buffalo trains from seven hours to just three hours; train travel from New York City to Albany would take less than two hours to complete. This may introduce Acela trains to the Empire Corridor if high speed rail is successful. Another reason which politicians are noting is that high speed trains may help improve upstate New York's economy, which is currently stagnant.
[edit] External links
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