Amtrak Empire Service (New York State)

Tadman wrote:Many industrial facilities such as Beech Grove or Albany Shops have oodles of golf carts for moving men and tools about the campus. I just rode on one around a very large shipyard last week, easily more than I've been on a golf cart at a golf cours in a couple years.

Think of how you see guys on golf carts at OHare - same idea. If the electrician has one chiller out in terminal A and one out in Terminal D, he can walk a mile with his 50lb tool bag, ride the tram, or take a golf cart.

Yup. The Cushman style gas carts were everywhere 20-30 years ago but electric golf carts are now cheaper and easier to procure.

50 years ago, you'd see tricycles with flatbeds used around the overhaul shops for the same purposes.

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Railjunkie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:34 pm Just keep us out of the offices of Dewy Cheatem and Howe.

Off topic:

Wow, Mr. Junkie, "Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe"; haven't heard that once since the NPR show "Car Talk" went off the air.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 4:53 pm

Railjunkie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:34 pm Just keep us out of the offices of Dewy Cheatem and Howe.

Off topic:

Wow, Mr. Junkie, "Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe"; haven't heard that once since the NPR show "Car Talk" went off the air.

Listened to that show quite frequently myself.

Tadman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 9:15 am

Railjunkie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:34 pm

David Benton wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:21 pm It's all about liability, and many companies here have continued the covid restrictions to stop anyone except employees accessing anywhere on the property that is not public.

Yes, like I said don't fix the problem. Just keep us out of the offices of Dewy Cheatem and Howe. As an employee you screw up its your fault not the companies. You are trespassing and get hurt, you didn't belong there in the first place. At least that's how I was raised.

Unfortunately the liability thing went from costly to astronomical. We were taught at one time that insurance was a safety net, shared risk. We all put money in, and they guy that gets hurt takes it out to be made whole again. That's not the case anymore.

Today's insurance company is basically a non-bank loan firm. You get hurt? They might pay out, but the premiums are going to go up so much that essentialy you are going to repay that claim over 3-5 years with interest, and because it's not a bank and they don't call it interest, there are no usury laws (which prevent high interest rates).

For example: I want a car loan for $30k, the bank gives it to me at 9pct or somethign based on my credit and income. The gov't says they can't go over Xpct because that's bad for the community, so they just deny the loan if they can't make the interest rate work. I keep riding the bus until I save enough or fix my credit to buy that car.

But if I smash my hand and it costs $30k medical bills, the company's insurance premiums will essentially reflect a 20pct interest rate because the insurance company is not a bank, and they don't call it interest, they just build it into the premium. Also if I sue the company, they are now on the hook for a lot more than $30k. That happens a lot these days. I get involved in cases like this and it is very common for a big company to settle out of court for $300-500k because the legal fees might be $1m.

And thats why we have the idiotic forkift/golf cart "learn to drive in 20 minutes" video and quiz, to prove you were adequatly trained.

That's not how my business's insurance agent explained workers comp to me. Employees are in a class, statewide, and you pay a percent of payroll based on employees in class.

For the planned service changes particularly late night, why can't amtrak line up with metro north and do a cross platform and cross honor in poughkeepsie or harmon? Avoids the qualification and capacity issues, would be an inconvenience for passengers but a guaranteed connection might alleviate some of the issues for the folks.

I was informed today of a few changes to the Empire schedule effective November 24th. Trains 238 and 235 are returning at that time and the combo trains of 63/69, 64/68 will revert back to their separate schedules. I have no idea how long this will last, I will believe it when jobs go up for bid.

Governor Hochul stepped in and wrote a letter asking for changes.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/govern ... passengers

I've got a trip on 69 on the 25th to Saratoga from Croton-Harmon. Wonder how I'll be affected.

Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2024 8:14 am I've got a trip on 69 on the 25th to Saratoga from Croton-Harmon. Wonder how I'll be affected.

If the changes go through AMT 69 would leave NY on its normal scheduled time, no combo train with AMT 63, no waiting in ALB for a couple of hours for the scheduled departure. Just checked the Amtrak web site it shows AMT69(25) departing NYP 835am. I should be able to confirm this with a bulletin, jobs will have to be up for bid today to be effective the 24th.

Are you telling me the cart and train did not engage in congress?

( this is funnier if you've seen The Whole Nine Yards)

The 3rd track property tax could have this solution. Just make the 3rd track and all signaling, CPs and any additional CPs on the other tracks for more fluidity Amtrak owned and CSX maintained? Any additional station platforms or expansion state owned.

Isn't that some thing that is done on the CSX owned tracks that Amtrak leases south of Albany?

west point wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:38 pm The 3rd track property tax could have this solution. Just make the 3rd track and all signaling, CPs and any additional CPs on the other tracks for more fluidity Amtrak owned and CSX maintained? Any additional station platforms or expansion state owned.

Isn't that some thing that is done on the CSX owned tracks that Amtrak leases south of Albany?

The Hudson division is double tracked just as it has been for the past 50ish years. Amtrak added a track to the Albany station and up West Albany Hill to Schenectady ish and that is about it.

https://media.amtrak.com/2024/11/govern ... ay-season/

Governor Hochul and Amtrak Announce Restoration of Empire Service in Time for the Holiday Season


Railroad Agrees To Restore Trains and Add Additional Cars to Empire Service Following Governor’s Letter


Governor Kathy Hochul, Amtrak and the New York State Department of Transportation today announced a restoration of Amtrak’s Empire Service that will aid passengers during the upcoming holiday and winter travel seasons. Following a letter sent by Governor Hochul and others earlier this month urging Amtrak to take action, the railroad — in consultation with the New York State Department of Transportation — has agreed to restore nearly all of the trains that had been temporarily suspended in previously announced service modifications. Additionally, Amtrak has agreed to add additional cars to other Empire Service trains in order to further mitigate the disruption to passengers.

“Ensuring access to reliable train travel throughout this key corridor is critical to riders who utilize the service and to communities who benefit from the economic activity they generate,” Governor Hochul said. “These service restorations are a huge victory for passengers who depend on the Empire Service and I thank Amtrak for working with us to ensure that we minimize to the fullest extent possible the schedule disruptions caused by the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “It is vital that New Yorkers have access to dependable and convenient passenger rail service, especially as we head into the busy holiday season. I commend Governor Hochul’s commitment to always looking out for all New Yorkers — the users of our transportation systems statewide — she is always focused on safety and reliability for all New Yorkers, especially our rail riders. My thanks to Amtrak for working with us to find meaningful solutions that minimize the impacts on passengers and benefit everyone.”

Amtrak President Roger Harris said, “As part of our strong collaboration with Gov. Hochul, NYSDOT and others, and in accommodation with other important infrastructure projects in the region, beginning Monday, December 2, our new schedules will ensure that the trains used by more than 98% of customers will be in service until major tunnel work begins. The tunnel work, an essential infrastructure improvement project and a $1.6 billion investment for New York State, will improve train service reliability both within New York State and throughout the Northeast Corridor.”

The state-supported Empire Service carried more than two million passengers in federal fiscal year 2024 and set all-time records for ridership and revenue. In October, Amtrak announced the decision to reduce service by two daily round trips between Albany and New York City and implemented additional operational modifications to the Maple Leaf and Adirondack lines while it undertakes a rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel which was flooded during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The state remains supportive of the project and its aim to address a state-of-good repair backlog on the Northeast Corridor. To address these impacts, Governor Hochul sent a letter to Amtrak Executives urging them to consider the many mitigation alternatives proposed by stakeholders, including the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) who partially funds the service.

After reevaluating all possible options, and in collaboration with commuter partners that utilize Penn Station, Amtrak is enhancing the Empire Service schedule in effect during construction work impacting Amtrak’s terminal in New York City. Beginning Monday, December 2, the new schedules will ensure that the trains used historically by more than 98 percent of Empire Service customers will be in service until Amtrak’s major tunnel work begins in the Spring. This includes:

The Adirondack and Maple Leaf will again operate as separate trains between New York City and Albany and allow for reduced wait times in Albany for Upstate customers.
Trains 235 and 238 will be restored.
Amtrak will add a fifth train car to the following trains: 233, 234, 235, 238, 244 and 245.
These measures will be effective through Sunday, Mar. 2, 2025. Amtrak will continue to evaluate the service plan, including additional capacity, to see if there are any new possibilities for making improvements, restoring service or modifying it based on future development.

The tunnel work, an essential infrastructure improvement project and a $1.6 billion investment for New York State, will improve train service reliability both within New York State and throughout the Northeast Corridor. It is a vital project that will restore two of the four tubes of the ERT that were badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. When complete, this project, as well as several others throughout the Northeast and nation, will benefit travelers and fortify our rail network for the first time in 100 years to last for the next 100 years.

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “I appreciate Governor Hochul’s swift actions and interventions on this issue. My colleague Assemblymember Pat Fahy and I sent Amtrak a letter on this issue last month. Many of our colleagues made similar calls to minimize the impact on passengers during this critical infrastructure project. I appreciate the Governor and the Department of Transportation working with us toward solutions that will ensure that the concerns of our Capital Region residents and beyond are addressed.”

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said, “Capital Region residents and New Yorkers will be thrilled to hear that nearly all reductions to Amtrak service will be restored until March 2025, with almost all trains running as originally scheduled and additional cars added for extra capacity. When these reductions were announced, Capital Region residents were rightly anxious — which is why I penned a letter to Amtrak urging them to reverse this decision or provide for additional cars alongside Assemblymember John McDonald. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue, Amtrak and the NYSDOT will consult and deliver further solutions that will offset the planned reductions in March. As a metro area with one of the nation’s busiest medium-sized rail stations, maintaining this service is vital to our economy and to providing affordable transit options for workers and families.”