NY: Adirondack train line reopens, including stops in Saratoga Springs, NYC and Montreal

For the first time in three years, Amtrak’s Adirondack train resumed operation, serving the state’s North Country region. The Adirondack line runs from New York City’s Penn Station to Montreal and includes stops in Plattsburgh, Whitehall, Ticonderoga, Rensselaer, Albany, Port Henry, and Rouses Point. It had been closed since the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Its restoration supplements the Ethan Allen line, which takes passengers between New York City and Burlington, Vermont, and supports the continued growth of mass transit in the Capital Region. Amtrak staff were joined by city and state representatives at the Saratoga Springs train station to celebrate the Adirondack train’s reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday morning. “Today we’re celebrating the return of a second train serving passengers in Saratoga Springs,” said Steve Strauss, executive director of the Empire State Passenger Association (ESPA). “This is really an exciting day,” Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim agreed. “I have great memories of riding this train. It’s a wonderful addition to our transportation needs.” State officials, many of whom had advocated hard for the train’s reopening, were happy to weigh in on the Adirondack line’s long-awaited return to service. Representatives for state Sen. Jim Tedisco and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand were on hand for the ribbon cutting, while others sent words of congratulations and support. “Families throughout Upstate New York and the North Country rely on the Adirondack Line for transportation, and it serves a significant economic driver, connecting tourists and our Canadian neighbors to our region,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik noted in a news release. “All aboard the Amtrak Adirondack Line! From Penn Station to Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh and all the way up to Montreal, I am thrilled to see the first train leaving the station of this vital economic engine for Upstate New York,” Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a different news release. “Whether it is the pristine landscapes of the Hudson Valley, the waters of Lake Champlain, or the picturesque downtowns of so many North Country communities, the Amtrak Adirondack Line helps residents, businesses, and tourists connect to some of the most beautiful parts of the Empire State.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/53056394/ny-adirondack-train-line-reopens-including-stops-in-saratoga-springs-nyc-and-montreal