View source for Empire Service

{{Short description|Amtrak service between New York City, NY and Niagara Falls, NY}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Distinguish|Empire Builder}}
{{about||BBC Empire Service, forerunner to the BBC World Service|BBC World Service|other uses|Empire Service (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name            = ''Empire Service''
| logo            = Empire Service logo.svg
| logo_width      = 150px
| image           = Briarcliff Manor Amtrak P32DM 707.jpg
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = An ''Empire Service'' train passing through [[Briarcliff Manor, New York]] in June 2023.
| type            = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status          = <!-- Only use when line is not operating -->
| locale          = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| predecessor     = [[New York Central Railroad|New York Central]] corridor trains
| first           = {{Start date|1967|12|03}}
| operator        = [[Amtrak]] in partnership with [[New York State Department of Transportation|NYSDOT]]
| formeroperator  = {{Plainlist|
* [[New York Central Railroad]] (1967–1968)
* [[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central]] (1968–1971)
}}
| ridership2      = {{Unbulleted list
   | {{Amtrak route ridership|Empire South}}
   | {{Amtrak route ridership|Empire West/Maple Leaf}}{{efn|Toronto–Albany: combines ''Empire Service'' and ''Maple Leaf'' ridership.}}
   }}
| start           = {{amtk|Niagara Falls, New York}}
| end             = {{amtk|New York City}}, New York
| stops           = 16
| distance        = {{convert|460|mi|km|0}}
| journeytime     = 8 hours, 51–58 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amtrak Timetable Results |url=https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html |access-date=December 20, 2021 |website=www.amtrak.com}}</ref>
| frequency       = Twelve daily round trips (Albany–NYC)<br />Three daily round trips (Niagara&nbsp;Falls–NYC)
| trainnumber     = 230, 232–241, 243–245, 250, 252–253, 256–257, 259–261, 280–281, 283–284
| class           = Coach Class<br />Business Class
| access          = All cars, all stations
| catering        = [[Amfleet#Club cars|Café car]]
| baggage         = Overhead racks
| stock           = [[Amfleet]] coaches
| gauge           = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| speed           = {{Convert|52|mph|abbr=on}}<!-- 460 miles/8.908 hours --> ({{Tooltip|avg.|average speed (including stops)}})<br />{{Convert|110|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Tooltip|top|top speed}})
| owners          = [[Metro-North Railroad|MNRR]], [[Amtrak]], [[CSX Transportation|CSX]]
| map             = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|id=Q989490}}
|Show interactive map
|{{Amtrak Empire Service}}
|Show route diagram map
}}
}}

The '''''Empire Service''''' is an [[inter-city rail]] service operated by [[Amtrak]] within the state of [[New York (state)|New York]] in the United States. The brand name originated with the [[New York Central Railroad]] in 1967. Trains on the line provide frequent daily service along the {{Convert|460|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Empire Corridor]] between New York City and [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]] via [[Albany, New York|Albany]], the state capital.

During [[fiscal year]] 2018, the ''Empire Service'' carried 1,150,498 passengers on the line between New York City and Albany, while services between Albany and points west, including the {{lnl|Amtrak|Maple Leaf}} and {{lnl|Amtrak|Lake Shore Limited}}, carried an additional 366,696.<ref name="FY2018">{{Cite web |date=November 2018 |title=Amtrak FY18 Ridership |url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/FY18-Ridership-Fact-Sheet-1.pdf |access-date=May 20, 2019 |publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref> Ticket revenue on the New York City–Albany section in FY2016 was $49,361,545, an increase of 1.4% from FY2015, while revenue on the Albany–Toronto route was $22,143,803.<ref name="FY2016">{{Cite web |date=October 2015 |title=Amtrak FY16 Ridership & Revenue |url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Amtrak-FY16-Ridership-and-Revenue-Fact-Sheet-4_17_17-mm-edits.pdf |access-date=May 20, 2019 |publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref>

== Services ==
Approximately hourly weekday service is available on the southern portion of the line between [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|New York Penn Station]] and [[Albany–Rensselaer station|Albany–Rensselaer]]. As of the April 2024 timetable, the route operates nine round trips on most days – seven between New York City and Albany, and two between New York City and Niagara Falls.<ref name="timetable">{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2024 |title=Empire Service |url=https://content.amtrak.com/content/timetable/Empire%20Service.pdf |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=www.amtrak.com}}</ref>

The corridor is served by four additional Amtrak trains each day:<ref name="timetable" />

*The ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]],'' which runs along the entire corridor before continuing across Central and Western New York and on to [[Toronto]]
*The ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', which follows the corridor through central and western New York as far as [[Buffalo–Depew station|Buffalo–Depew]] en route to [[Chicago Union Station|Chicago]], with one section breaking off at Albany to serve Massachusetts en route to [[South Station|Boston]].
*The ''[[Adirondack (train)|Adirondack]]'' to [[Montreal]] and ''[[Ethan Allen Express]]'' to [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]] supplement service on the southern portion of the line between New York City and Albany. Both follow the corridor as far as [[Schenectady station|Schenectady]].

Downstate, in the Hudson Valley, the portion of the route from Poughkeepsie southward is shared with the [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[Hudson Line (Metro-North)|Hudson Line]], and sees frequent commuter service, with connections to the ''Empire Service'' at Poughkeepsie, Croton-Harmon, and Yonkers.

The Empire Service is one of four New York-based train routes that Amtrak operates with funding from the [[New York State Department of Transportation]] with the other three routes being the ''Adirondack'', ''Maple Leaf,'' and ''Ethan Allen Express.''

== History ==
{{See also|List of Amtrak routes#Empire Corridor}}
[[File:Empire Service at Albany-Rensselaer station, August 1969.jpg|thumb|left|A battered Penn Central [[EMD E8]] leads another E8 and two coaches at Albany-Rensselaer in 1969]]
Today's Empire Service is the descendant of numerous routes dating to 1869, when [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]] merged his Hudson River Railroad (forerunner of today's Metro-North Hudson Line) with the [[New York Central Railroad]] (NYC), thus linking New York City with Albany.

Its route is largely coextensive with what was once the NYC's main line, which was the eastern portion of the "Water Level Route" from New York City to [[Chicago]]. The Buffalo-Niagara Falls leg was formerly part of an NYC subsidiary, the [[Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad]], but passenger service was dropped in 1961.

On December 3, 1967, just months before its merger with the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] to become the [[Penn Central Transportation Company]], the Central reorganized all its passenger routes. All trains along the New York City-Buffalo corridor were consolidated under the Empire Service brand. Marketing emphasized convenient service within the state, with a reduced emphasis on long-distance trains which continued west of Buffalo. This program continued after the Penn Central merger.<ref name="pcp04151968">{{Cite journal |date=April 15, 1968 |title=They're brightening up the Empire Trains |url=http://www.unlikelypcrr.com/page3/Welcome_files/PC_POST_1968-04-15.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Penn Central Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112855/http://www.unlikelypcrr.com/page3/Welcome_files/PC_POST_1968-04-15.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> The new scheduling produced mixed results; passengers were deterred by the poor quality of the passenger cars and the inconvenient locations of stations along the route.<ref>{{Harvnb|Saunders|2001|p=377}}</ref>

[[File:Amtrak Empire Corridor Turboliner.jpg|thumb|left|Amtrak once operated [[Turboliner]]s on the Empire Corridor. Here the ''Mohawk'' crosses the [[Seneca River (New York)|Seneca River]] in 1984.]]
Penn Central handed the Empire Service, along with most of its other routes, to Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Initially, Amtrak retained seven daily trains on the New York City–Albany–Buffalo corridor: four operated from New York City to Albany, and three ran through to Buffalo. All service west of Buffalo was discontinued. All trains retained their ex-Penn Central numbers and were otherwise nameless.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amtrak |author-link=Amtrak |date=May 1, 1971 |title=Nationwide Schedules of Intercity Passenger Service |url=http://atlantic.at.northwestern.edu/ingest-newberry/item/amtrak-nationwide-schedules-intercity-passenger-service-effective-july-12-1971 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130908005447/http://atlantic.at.northwestern.edu/ingest-newberry/item/amtrak-nationwide-schedules-intercity-passenger-service-effective-july-12-1971 |archive-date=September 8, 2013 |access-date=September 6, 2013}}</ref> Westward service resumed briefly after May with the introduction of the Chicago–New York City ''[[Lake Shore Limited|Lake Shore]]'', but this train was canceled on January 6, 1972.

The ''Empire Service'' name was restored on June 11, 1972, and individual names were added to the trains along the corridor on May 19, 1974.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19720611&item=0044 |title=Nationwide Schedules of Intercity Passenger Service |date=June 11, 1972 |publisher=Amtrak |page=43 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19740519&item=0034 |title=All-America Schedules |date=May 19, 1974 |publisher=Amtrak |page=33 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref>

Despite doubts about Amtrak's potential success, the company was key in reestablishing some discontinued services along the Empire Corridor. Service beyond Buffalo to Niagara Falls was reestablished with such trains as the ''[[Niagara Rainbow]]'' and the ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]]''. In addition Amtrak restored service to downtown [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]] in 1978, a service which Penn Central had discontinued in 1968, for all ''Empire Service'' trains that continued beyond Albany. Service was restored permanently on the old Water Level Route with the reintroduction of the old New York Central train, the ''[[Lake Shore Limited]],'' on October 31, 1975.

On April 7, 1991, all Amtrak ''Empire Service'' trains started using the new [[West Side Line#Empire Connection|Empire Connection]] into New York Penn. Prior to that change, all passenger trains from Albany and beyond originated and terminated at [[Grand Central Terminal]], forcing passengers traveling to the [[Northeast Corridor]] 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 City.

All service along the Empire Corridor was consolidated under the ''Empire'' brand on October 28, 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19950910ner&item=0020 |title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable: Winter 1996 |date=January 1996 |publisher=Amtrak |pages=20–23 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref> The names were restored just a year later, only to be dropped again in 1999.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19961110ne&item=0020 |title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable: Fall/Winter 1996/97 |date=November 14, 1996 |publisher=Amtrak |pages=20–23 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19990516ne&item=0022 |title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable: Spring/Summer 1999 |date=May 16, 1999 |publisher=Amtrak |pages=22–23 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref>

In October 2011, CSX and Amtrak reached an agreement for Amtrak to lease the Hudson Subdivision between [[Poughkeepsie, New York|Poughkeepsie]] and [[Hoffmans, New York|Hoffmans]], west of Schenectady. Since 2012, Amtrak has effectively had operational control over the Hudson Subdivision, handling all maintenance and capital responsibilities. CSX retained freight rights over the line, which hosts only five freights a day.

In the Capital District, Amtrak has used federal funds to double-track the line between Rensselaer and Schenectady (which once had four tracks under the New York Central), and add an additional station track at the Albany–Rensselaer station. Amtrak sees the lease as key to improving ''Empire Service'' speeds and frequencies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eric Anderson |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Amtrak leasing track corridor |work=Times-Union |url=http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Amtrak-leasing-track-corridor-2223867.php |access-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref> Amtrak officially assumed control on December 1, 2012, with trains in the section now dispatched by the Amtrak Control and Command Center in New York City.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Governor Cuomo Announces Hudson Rail Line Lease |date=December 4, 2012 |publisher=Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo |location=Albany, NY |url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-hudson-rail-line-lease |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110023/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-hudson-rail-line-lease |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From July 10 through September 1, 2017, six ''Empire Service'' trains (three round trips) used Grand Central Terminal as part of Amtrak's work to make repairs at Penn Station.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Select Empire Service Trains to Operate to/from Grand Central Terminal during Infrastructure Renewal Period |date=July 3, 2017 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2017/07/select-empire-service-trains-operate-tofrom-grand-central-terminal-infrastructure-renewal-period/ |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171505/https://media.amtrak.com/2017/07/select-empire-service-trains-operate-tofrom-grand-central-terminal-infrastructure-renewal-period/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> All trains using the [[West Side Line#Empire Connection|Empire Connection]], excluding the ''Lake Shore Limited'', again operated into Grand Central Terminal from May 26 to September 4, 2018, to allow work on the Empire Tunnel, the Spuyten Duyvil movable bridge, and Track 19 in New York City's Penn Station.<ref name="summer18">{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak Announces Summer Infrastructure Renewal Work |date=April 10, 2018 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2018/04/amtrak-announces-summer-infrastructure-renewal-work/ |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814003305/https://media.amtrak.com/2018/04/amtrak-announces-summer-infrastructure-renewal-work/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{anchor|Berkshire Flyer}}

In May 2018, the [[Massachusetts Senate]] approved funds for a two-year pilot of the "Berkshire Flyer", a seasonal extension of a weekend ''Empire Service'' round trip to [[Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center|Pittsfield]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2018 |title=News Briefs: Mass. Senate approves funding for opioid prevention services; Mass. Senate provides funding for Berkshire FLYER; Mass. Senate to review small bridge repair regulations |work=Berkshire Edge |url=https://theberkshireedge.com/news-briefs-mass-senate-approves-funding-for-opioid-prevention-services-mass-senate-provides-funding-for-berkshire-flyer-mass-senate-to-review-small-bridge-repair-regulations/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaccaro |first=Adam |date=March 27, 2018 |title=A Berkshires-NYC train service could relaunch by 2019 |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/27/berkshires-nyc-train-service-could-relaunch/9RakBy9vcf7I7YIGoGax2K/story.html}}</ref> The service, modeled on the [[CapeFLYER]], would extend one New York City–Albany train to Pittsfield on Friday afternoons, with a return trip on Sunday afternoons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=March 1, 2019 |title=Berkshire Flyer group 'ready to take the leap' from vision to reality |work=Berkshire Eagle |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/berkshire-flyer-group-ready-to-take-the-leap-from-vision-to-reality,566441}}</ref> The trial was scheduled to begin in June 2020, but was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] and outstanding questions around the program's legal sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parnass |first=Larry |date=May 29, 2020 |title=Debut of Berkshire Flyer service to NYC delayed by legal questions |language=en |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/archives/debut-of-berkshire-flyer-service-to-nyc-delayed-by-legal-questions/article_ded34493-7e1a-5cfc-a554-1e02c0f65935.html |access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> After delays due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], the pilot was rescheduled for summer 2022 and 2023, with the first trip on July 8, 2022.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Berkshire Flyer Passenger Train Service Begins July 8 |date=April 25, 2022 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |url=https://blog.mass.gov/transportation/uncategorized/berkshire-flyer-passenger-train-service-begins-july-8/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426194850/https://blog.mass.gov/transportation/uncategorized/berkshire-flyer-passenger-train-service-begins-july-8/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Service along the southern portion was disrupted for several days in November 2023. Increased inspection and regulation that followed an [[2023 New York City parking garage collapse|April 2023 parking garage collapse]] resulted in the discovery of similar structural issues at another garage overlying the tracks in Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haag |first=Matthew |last2=Mather |first2=Victor |date=2023-11-13 |title=N.Y. Area Amtrak Service Paused Over Problems With Garage Above Tracks |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/nyregion/amtrak-service-albany-nyc.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news10.com/top-stories/amtrak-to-resume-service-between-albany-and-nyc/ |title=Amtrak to resume service between Albany and NYC |first=Ben |last=Mitchell |date=November 15, 2023 |newspaper=News 10 ABC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212041912/https://www.news10.com/top-stories/amtrak-to-resume-service-between-albany-and-nyc/ |archive-date=February 12, 2024}}</ref> One round trip was resumed on March 4, 2024, restoring service to pre-COVID levels.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/two-amtrak-train-runs-restored-adding-early-morning-and-very-late-night-trains/ |title=Two Amtrak Train Runs Restored, Adding Early-Morning and Very Late-Night Trains |date=February 8, 2024 |first=Emily |last=Sachar |newspaper=The Daily Catch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212042241/https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/two-amtrak-train-runs-restored-adding-early-morning-and-very-late-night-trains/ |archive-date=February 12, 2024}}</ref> Service was reduced to eight round trips on November 10, 2024, due to construction work in the [[East River Tunnels]] limiting capacity at Penn Station.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/11/empire-service-schedule-changes/ |title=Empire Service Schedule Changes |date=November 1, 2024 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> One round trip was re-added from December 2, 2024, to April 28, 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/11/governor-hochul-and-amtrak-announce-restoration-of-empire-service-in-time-for-the-holiday-season/ |title=Governor Hochul and Amtrak Announce Restoration of Empire Service in Time for the Holiday Season |publisher=Amtrak |date=November 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2025/02/amtrak-extends-for-two-additional-months-current-empire-service-levels-between-albany-and-new-york-city/ |title=Amtrak Extends for Two Additional Months Current Empire Service Levels Between Albany and New York City |date=February 20, 2025 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> {{As of|October 2025}}, it is expected to resume on December 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mta.info/press-release/icymi-governor-hochul-restores-service-and-announces-further-improvements-rail |title=ICYMI: Governor Hochul Restores Service and Announces Further Improvements to Rail Service Between Albany and New York City |date=October 20, 2025 |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref>

== Operation ==
=== Equipment ===
[[File:Amtrak on NY Metro North Line.jpg|thumb|right|[[GE Genesis]] P32AC-DM No. 701 pulls an ''Empire Service'' through the [[Hudson Highlands]] along the [[Hudson River]].]]
Most ''Empire Service'' trains consist of five or six cars hauled by a [[locomotive]].<ref name="tw">{{Cite web |title=Amtrak – Ethan Allen Express |url=http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/ethanallen.htm |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=TrainWeb}}</ref>{{Unreliable source|certain=n|reason=Likely [[WP:UGC|user-generated]]|date=October 2025}}

The passenger cars are the [[Amfleet]] I series passenger cars built by the [[Budd Company]] in the mid-to-late 1970s. Most trains include an [[Amfleet#Club cars|Amfleet club car]] which has a combination of Business Class seating with a Café (food service/lounge) and four or five Coach Class cars.<ref name="burl-ext-bfp">{{Cite web |last=Angelo |first=Lilly St |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Amtrak expected to begin route from Burlington to New York in July |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2022/03/23/vermont-amtrak-service-burlington-nyc-start-july/7120486001/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=The Burlington Free Press}}</ref>{{cn|date=October 2025|reason=This article only discusses the Ethan Allen Express, not the Empire Service}}

Between New York City and Albany–Rensselaer, trains are pulled by a [[GE Genesis#P32AC-DM|GE Genesis P32AC-DM]] dual-mode diesel locomotive at speeds up to {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. The locomotives operate on [[third rail]] electric power in Penn Station and the Empire Connection tunnel and on diesel power for the rest of the route.<ref name="vat">{{Cite web |last=Vermont Agency of Transportation |author-link=Vermont Agency of Transportation |date=January 2010 |title=Passenger Rail Equipment Options for the Amtrak Vermonter and Ethan Allen Express |url=http://www.leg.state.vt.us/reports/2010ExternalReports/253921.pdf |access-date=December 29, 2014 |website=Vermont Legislature}}</ref>{{cn|date=October 2025|reason=This source only discusses the Vermonter and Ethan Allen Express, not the Empire Service}} Between Albany–Rensselaer and Niagara Falls, traditional diesel-only [[GE Genesis]] locomotives are used.

The New York Central did not order new equipment for the ''Empire Service'', preferring to rehabilitate existing equipment. 40 64-seat coaches, built by [[Pullman-Standard]] in 1946, were refurbished in 1967–1968. Another 21 coaches from the same pool were rebuilt as 50-seat "coach-buffet" cars.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|pp=34; 37}}</ref> Amtrak acquired this equipment when it took over the Penn Central's passenger trains in 1971.<ref>{{Harvnb|Simon|Warner|2011|pp=135; 150–151}}</ref> The cars remained on the ''Empire Service'' under Amtrak into the mid-1970s. A typical train between New York City and Albany consisted of two coaches and the coach-buffet or "snack bar" coach. Trains which operated west of Albany had additional coaches.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1977|pp=18–19}}</ref>

In the coming years all equipment will be replaced with Amtrak Airo trainsets, the railroad's branding of its combination of [[Siemens Venture]] passenger cars and a [[Siemens Charger]] diesel-electric locomotive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Introducing Our New Trains: Amtrak Airo |url=https://www.amtrak.com/amtrak-airo |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Amtrak |language=en}}</ref> The trainsets for the ''Empire Service'' will have six passenger cars, which will include a cab [[control car]] food service area and a mix of 2x2 Coach Class and 2x1 Business Class seating.<ref name="2022 Asset Line Plan">{{Cite web |title=Amtrak FY 2022–2027 Asset Line Plan |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Service-Asset-Line-Plans-FY22-27.pdf |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=[[Amtrak]] |page=132}}</ref> The car closest to the locomotive will have batteries to supply electricity to traction motors in the locomotive when operating in Penn Station and the Empire Connection tunnel, eliminating the need for third rail propulsion. The arrangement will eliminate the time-consuming locomotive change at Albany–Rensselaer.

=== Classes of service ===
All classes of service include complimentary WiFi, an electric outlet (120 V, 60&nbsp;Hz AC) at each seat, reading lamps, fold-out tray tables. Reservations are required on all trains, tickets may be purchased online, from an agent at some stations, a ticketing machine at most stations, or, at a higher cost, from the conductor on the train.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travel Guide to Train Fares |url=https://www.amtrak.com/planning-booking/tickets-reservations/guide-to-fares.html |access-date=April 8, 2018 |website=Amtrak}}</ref>
*'''Coach Class''': 2x2 seating. Passengers self-select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reserved Coach Class Seat |url=https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/onboard-accommodations-for-all-your-needs/seating-accommodations/reserved-coach.html |access-date=April 8, 2018 |website=Amtrak}}</ref>
*'''Business Class''': 2x1 seating with more legroom than coach. Passengers receive complimentary soft drinks.

=== Route ===
[[File:Empire Service.png|thumb|right|{{center|Empire Service map}}]]
{{no sources section|date=July 2022}}
The ''Empire Service'' operates over [[CSX Transportation]], [[Metro-North Railroad]], and Amtrak trackage:
* CSX trackage: [[Niagara Subdivision]], [[Buffalo Terminal Subdivision]], [[Rochester Subdivision]], [[Mohawk Subdivision]], [[Selkirk Subdivision]], and [[Hudson Subdivision]], Niagara Falls to [[Poughkeepsie, New York|Poughkeepsie]] (Amtrak-owned between [[Hoffmans, New York|Hoffmans]] and [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]], leased to Amtrak between Schenectady and Poughkeepsie)
* Metro-North Railroad: [[Hudson Line (Metro-North)|Hudson Line]], Poughkeepsie to [[Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx|Spuyten Duyvil]]
* Amtrak: [[West Side Line#Empire Connection|Empire Connection]], Spuyten Duyvil to Penn Station

The northern terminus for most trains, Albany–Rensselaer, is the ninth-busiest Amtrak station in the country and the busiest serving a metropolitan area of fewer than two million people. This is mainly due to the large number of passengers traveling along the New York City–Albany corridor, which for years was to the New York Central what the Philadelphia–New York corridor was to the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]].

From Spuyten Duyvil to Albany, the train runs mostly parallel to the Hudson River (viewable on the left side northbound and the right side southbound).

=== Station stops ===
All stops are within the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]].
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! Location !! [[Railway milepost|Mile (km)]] !! Station !! Connections
|-
| [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]] || {{convert|461|mi|km|abbr=values}} || [[Niagara Falls station (New York)|Niagara Falls]] || {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: {{lnl|Amtrak|Maple Leaf}}
|-
| [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] || {{convert|437|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Buffalo–Exchange Street}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf'', [[Amtrak Thruway]] to [[Jamestown, New York|Jamestown]]<br />{{rint|tram|1}} [[Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority|NFTA]]: {{rcb|NFTA|Metro Rail|inline=route}}
|-
| [[Depew, New York|Depew]] || {{convert|431|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Buffalo–Depew}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Lake Shore Limited}}
|-
| [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] || {{convert|370|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Rochester}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf'', ''Lake Shore Limited''
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] ||  || [[New York State Fair station|New York State Fair]] || ''(Train only stops during fair)''
|-
| {{convert|291|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Syracuse}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf'', ''Lake Shore Limited''<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[Central New York Regional Transportation Authority|CENTRO]]: 16, 48, 50, 60, 62, 70, 82, 236, 246, 250
|-
| [[Rome, New York|Rome]] || {{convert|250|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Rome}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Maple Leaf}}
|-
| [[Utica, New York|Utica]] || {{convert|237|mi|km|abbr=values}} || [[Union Station (Utica, New York)|Utica Union Station]] || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf'', ''Lake Shore Limited''<br />{{rint|heritage|rail}} [[Adirondack Scenic Railroad]]<br />{{rint|bus|1}} CENTRO: 15, 31
|-
| [[Amsterdam, New York|Amsterdam]] || {{convert|177|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Amsterdam}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Maple Leaf''
|-
| [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]] || {{convert|159|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Schenectady}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Adirondack}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Ethan Allen Express}}, ''Maple Leaf'', ''Lake Shore Limited''<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[Capital District Transportation Authority|CDTA]]: 351, 353, 354, 355, 370, 763, 905 (BusPlus)
|-
| [[Rensselaer, New York|Rensselaer]] || {{convert|141|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Albany–Rensselaer}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''[[Berkshire Flyer]]'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Lake Shore Limited'', ''Maple Leaf''<br />{{rint|bus|1}} CDTA: 114, 214
|-
| [[Hudson, New York|Hudson]] || {{convert|114|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Hudson}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''Berkshire Flyer'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Maple Leaf''
|-
| [[Rhinecliff, New York|Rhinecliff]] || {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Rhinecliff}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''Berkshire Flyer'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Maple Leaf''
|-
| [[Poughkeepsie (city), New York|Poughkeepsie]]  || {{convert|80|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Poughkeepsie}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''Berkshire Flyer'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Maple Leaf''<br />{{rint|newyork|mnr}} [[Metro-North Railroad]]: {{rcb|Metro-North Railroad|Hudson|inline=square}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[Dutchess County Public Transit|DCPT]]: A, B, C, D, E, Poughkeepsie RailLink; [[Ulster County Area Transit|UCAT]]: Ulster-Poughkeepsie LINK
|-
| [[Croton-on-Hudson, New York|Croton-on-Hudson]] || {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Croton–Harmon}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''Berkshire Flyer'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Lake Shore Limited'', ''Maple Leaf''<br />{{rint|newyork|mnr}} Metro-North Railroad: {{rcb|Metro-North Railroad|Hudson|inline=square}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[Bee-Line Bus System|Bee-Line]]: 10, 11, 14
|-
| [[Yonkers, New York|Yonkers]] || {{convert|18|mi|km|abbr=values}} || {{amtk|Yonkers}} || {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: ''Adirondack'', ''Berkshire Flyer'', ''Ethan Allen Express'', ''Maple Leaf''<br />{{rint|newyork|mnr}} Metro-North Railroad: {{rcb|Metro-North Railroad|Hudson|inline=square}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} Bee-Line: 6, 9, 25, 32, 91
|-
| [[New York City]] || 0 || [[New York Penn Station]]
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak (long-distance): {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}}, ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Palmetto}}, ''[[Silver Meteor]]''<br />{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak (intercity): {{lnl|Amtrak|Acela}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Adirondack}}, ''Berkshire Flyer'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Carolinian}}, ''[[Ethan Allen Express]]'', ''[[Keystone Service]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Maple Leaf}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Pennsylvanian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Vermonter}}<br />{{rint|newyork|lirr}} [[Long Island Rail Road|LIRR]]: {{rcb|LIRR|City Terminal Zone|inline=square}}, {{rcb|LIRR|Port Washington|inline=square}}<br />{{rint|njt}} [[NJ Transit Rail Operations|NJ Transit]]: {{rcb|NJ Transit|North Jersey Coast|inline=square}}, {{rcb|NJ Transit|Northeast Corridor|inline=square}}, {{rcb|NJ Transit|Gladstone|inline=square}}, {{rcb|NJ Transit|Montclair-Boonton|inline=square}}, {{rcb|NJ Transit|Morristown|inline=square}}<br />{{rint|newyork|subway}} [[New York City Subway|NYC Subway]]: {{NYCS Broadway-Seventh|time=bullets}}{{NYCS Eighth south|time=bullets}}<br />{{rint|path}} [[PATH (rail system)|PATH]]: {{rcb|PATH|HOB-33|inline=route}} {{rcb|PATH|JSQ-33|inline=route}} {{rcb|PATH|JSQ-33 (via HOB)|inline=route}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[MTA Regional Bus Operations|NYC Transit buses]]: {{NYC bus link|M7|M20|M34 SBS|M34A SBS|Q32|SIM23|SIM24}}
|}

== High-speed rail ==
{{Main|New York high-speed rail}}
{{unsourced section|date=August 2022}}
The ''Empire Service'' has been a long-standing candidate for [[high-speed rail]] and [[Railway electrification system|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]] who represent the upstate regions. Other politicians have asked that high-speed rail be introduced along the Empire Corridor, diminishing the time for New York City&nbsp;– 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 Express|Acela]] trains to the Empire Corridor if high-speed rail is successful. Another reason, which politicians have noted, is that high-speed trains might help improve [[Upstate New York]]'s economy, which had become stagnant.

Currently, trains attain a maximum speed of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on the stretch of track just northwest of Albany. Areas east of Schenectady also see speeds above {{convert|79|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. The overall average including stops is about 50 mph, taking nearly 9 hours to go 450 miles.

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{Saunders-Merging Lines}}
* {{Amtrak By the Numbers}}
* {{Wayner - Car names, numbers, consists}}
* {{Cite book |title=Amtrak Consists |publisher=Wayner Publications |year=1977 |edition=2nd |location=New York, NY |oclc=4279671 |ref={{Harvid|Wayner|1977}}}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*{{amtrak web|route=yes}}

{{Amtrak routes}}
{{Higher speed rail}}
{{High-speed rail in the United States}}


[[Category:Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Higher-speed rail]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in New York (state)]]