FROM THE PRESIDENT
AND CEO OF AMTRAK
Dear Traveler ,
Welcome aboard one of more than 20 daily Amtrak trains operating in Upstate New York and through the Hudson Valley ! Including high-speed Acela Express , Northeast Regional and other trains serving New York Penn Station — located at the center of the busy Northeast Corridor ( Washington- Boston )— that number jumps to 140 trains . Altogether , they carried 12.6 million customers to and from 26 stations across New York State in 2016 .
Whether you ’ re traveling for work , to see family and friends or get to school , Amtrak offers easy downtown-to-downtown connections that deliver you to the heart of the Empire State ’ s major cities . Contemplating a New York vacation or a weekend getaway ? Amtrak is simply the smarter way to travel — you can skip the traffic , relax in wide , comfortable seats and enjoy the striking natural scenery for which New York is world famous .
Through close collaboration and careful evaluation of passenger feedback , Amtrak and New York State regularly introduce initiatives to enhance the customer experience aboard trains and at stations . Last year , Amtrak expanded its pets program so customers may easily travel with their small cat or dog on Empire Service , Adirondack , Maple Leaf and Ethan Allen Express trains . A recent partnership with Taste NY , a program promoting New York ’ s food and beverage industries , offers travelers a selection of locally-produced snacks and drinks . These include Always Bagels , Chobani yogurt , Sweet Sam ' s coffee cakes , craft beers and more .
Station modernization is often a joint effort among Amtrak , the state and local communities . This past December , Maple Leaf and Empire Service trains began using the new Niagara Falls Intermodal Transportation Center . The city-owned facility is a sparkling gateway at the border with Canada . In addition to an airy , light-filled waiting room , it includes a U . S . Customs and Border Protection office and space for an expanded Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center .
Work is also progressing on new facilities in Rochester and Schenectady . The Rochester station , located just north of downtown and slated for completion in mid- 2017 , will feature classic brick construction with stone accents . Passengers will find a spacious waiting room with retail areas and an Amtrak ticket office . Two new tracks will reduce delays caused by railroad congestion , while a platform level with the train doors will make it easier to board and detrain . In Schenectady , a new intermodal facility is envisioned to support center city revitalization .
Additional projects are focused on improving the railroad for more efficient and timely passenger rail operations . Nearly $ 200 million in federal and state funds are being invested on the Empire Corridor linking New York City , Albany-Rensselaer and Niagara Falls . Over the past few years , crews have built a fourth track and extended the platforms at the Albany-Rensselaer station , thereby improving operating flexibility and train on-time performance . Sixty-three miles of new underground cables are in place between Albany-Rensselaer and Poughkeepsie , while a second mainline track and upgraded signals are being installed between Albany-Rensselaer and Schenectady .
New York industry is playing an important role in the future of Amtrak ’ s high-speed Acela Express service . In August 2016 , Amtrak received a $ 2.45 billion federal loan to fund the purchase of 28 new high-speed trainsets for Acela Express , as well as the modernization of Northeast Corridor infrastructure . The sleek new equipment , designed by Alstom , will be built at its facilities in Hornell and Rochester , creating an estimated 400 local jobs .
With an eye to accommodating increasing ridership and a growing population , the trainsets will have one-third more passenger seats and amenities that can be upgraded to meet evolving customer preferences . Expect to see the first trainset enter service in 2021 , with all operational by the end of 2022 . Significant station improvements will be undertaken in New York City and Washington to complement the new equipment and a planned increase in train frequencies .
All of the projects mentioned above are ultimately focused on building a stronger and more modern passenger rail system for New Yorkers . See where the train can take you this year — these pages offer more than enough inspiration !
Wishing you safe and happy travels ,
Wick Moorman President and Chief Executive Officer
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