Amtrak, LIRR Service Cut For Tunnel Repairs

Amtrak has started a three-year, $1.6 billion rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel, leading to the suspension of two daily Empire Service trains between Penn Station and Albany and reduced service affecting both Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuters. The project, funded largely by the Biden administration's infrastructure law, addresses damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and aims to modernize vital infrastructure. Despite Amtrak's efforts to add train cars and minimize disruption, Gov. Kathy Hochul, LIRR leadership, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman have criticized the project's daytime schedule and its impact on commuters. Passenger advocates and officials are calling for repairs to be conducted at night and on weekends, citing international precedents for less disruptive approaches. Concerns persist about overcrowding, reduced convenience, and negative economic and quality-of-life effects for New Yorkers. Calls for federal intervention have intensified as the project's regional impact becomes clearer.