History Empire Service (train)

a battered penn central emd e8 leads e8 , 2 coaches @ albany-rensselaer in 1969

the route formerly water level route of new york central railroad buffalo , former buffalo , niagara falls railroad. in december 1967, months before merger pennsylvania railroad become penn central transportation company, central reorganized passenger trains. gone individual train names. in place central introduced empire service brand new york–buffalo trains. marketing emphasized convenient service within new york, reduced emphasis on long-distance trains continued west of buffalo. program continued after penn central merger. new scheduling produced mixed results; passengers deterred poor quality of passenger cars , inconvenient locations of stations along route.

amtrak once operated turboliners on empire corridor. here mohawk crosses seneca river in 1984.

amtrak began on may 1, 1971, 7 daily trains on new york—albany—buffalo corridor: 4 operated new york—albany , 3 ran through buffalo. service west of buffalo discontinued. trains retained ex-penn central numbers , otherwise nameless. westward service resumed briefly after may introduction of chicago—new york lake shore, train canceled on january 6, 1972.

despite doubts amtrak s potential success, company key in reestablishing discontinued services along empire corridor. service beyond buffalo niagara falls, had been abandoned new york central in 1961, reestablished such trains niagara rainbow , maple leaf. in addition amtrak restored service downtown schenectady in 1978, service penn central had discontinued in 1968, empire service trains continued beyond albany. service restored permanently on new york central water level route chicago reintroduction of old new york central train, lake shore limited in 1975.

on april 7, 1991, amtrak empire service trains started using new empire connection penn station, new york. prior change, passenger trains albany , beyond went grand central terminal forced passengers going beyond new york transfer via shuttle bus, taxicab or via new york city subway reach penn station. move saved amtrak expense of operating 2 stations in new york.

ge genesis p32ac-dm no. 701 pulls empire service through hudson highlands along hudson river.

in october 2011, csx , amtrak reached agreement amtrak lease hudson subdivision between poughkeepsie , schenectady, amtrak assuming maintenance , capital responsibilities. csx retain freight rights on line, hosts 5 freights day. amtrak use federal funds double track line between rensselaer , schenectady, , add additional station track @ albany-rensselaer station. amtrak sees lease key improving empire service speeds , frequencies. amtrak officially assumed control on december 1, 2012, trains in section dispatched amtrak control , command center in new york city.

in june 2017, amtrak announced during summer 2017 6 empire service trains (three round trips) arrive , depart grand central terminal part of amtrak s work make repairs @ penn station.