Metro-North, Amtrak Expand NYC–Albany Service

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Metro-North will run a once-daily round trip between Grand Central Terminal and Albany-Rensselaer beginning in spring 2026, extending the Hudson Line roughly 80 miles beyond Poughkeepsie. The northbound train will depart Grand Central in mid-morning with a southbound return in the afternoon, and non-revenue test runs are planned later this year. Metro-North fares are expected to be fixed and near the low end of Amtrak (about $40 one-way), offering a cheaper, more predictable alternative to Amtrak’s variable pricing. Amtrak will restore one daily round trip between Penn Station and Albany starting Dec. 1 and cap coach flex fares at $99 round-trip. Officials said the moves are intended to replace capacity lost after Amtrak cut several weekday trips during a multi-year, $1.6 billion East River Tunnel reconstruction, which is planned to fully reopen by the end of 2027. Combined, the Amtrak and Metro-North changes are expected to ease overcrowding, high fares and service gaps for Hudson Valley and Capital Region riders.