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Due to continuing infrastructure work at Penn Station, the northbound ''Adirondack'' ran combined with the northbound ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]]'' for most of the summer of 2019, splitting in Albany. The two trains ran separately on weekends during July and August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nyp-infrastructure-renewal.html|title=Summer 2019 infrastructure alert}}</ref>
Due to continuing infrastructure work at Penn Station, the northbound ''Adirondack'' ran combined with the northbound ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]]'' for most of the summer of 2019, splitting in Albany. The two trains ran separately on weekends during July and August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nyp-infrastructure-renewal.html|title=Summer 2019 infrastructure alert}}</ref>


In March 2020, the ''Adirondack'' was truncated to Albany–Rensselaer after all non-essential travel across the [[Canada-United States border]] was banned in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2020-03-24 |title=Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |url-status=live |publisher=Amtrak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325190328/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |archive-date=2020-03-25 |access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dickson|first=Jane|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-trump-confirms-canada-us-to-close-border-to-non-essential-travel/|title=Canada-U.S. border to close except for essential supply chains|date=March 18, 2020|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> In July 2021, ''Adirondack'' service was suspended following the resumption of ''[[Ethan Allen Express]]'' service to Rutland, which overlaps the ''Adirondack'' between New York City and {{amtk|Fort Edward}}. In October 2022, Amtrak began running crew re-qualification trips in preparation of the train's return. No date has been set {{as of|2022|10|20|df=us|lc=y}}.<ref name="https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-preparing-for-amtraks-return-to-montreal/">{{cite web |last1=Weinberg |first1=Harrison |title=News Photo: Preparing for Amtrak's return to Montreal |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-preparing-for-amtraks-return-to-montreal/ |website=Trains.com |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref>
In March 2020, the ''Adirondack'' was truncated to Albany–Rensselaer after all non-essential travel across the [[Canada-United States border]] was banned in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2020-03-24 |title=Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |url-status=live |publisher=Amtrak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325190328/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |archive-date=2020-03-25 |access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dickson|first=Jane|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-trump-confirms-canada-us-to-close-border-to-non-essential-travel/|title=Canada-U.S. border to close except for essential supply chains|date=March 18, 2020|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> In July 2021, ''Adirondack'' service was suspended following the resumption of ''[[Ethan Allen Express]]'' service to Rutland, which overlaps the ''Adirondack'' between New York City and {{amtk|Fort Edward}}. In October 2022, Amtrak began running crew re-qualification trips in preparation of the train's return. Service from [[New York City]] to Albany resumed on December 5, 2022. <ref>https://www.amtrak.com/adirondack-train</ref>


==Route details==
==Route details==

Revision as of 01:30, 28 December 2022

Adirondack
The Adirondack at Saratoga Springs station in 2013
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusSuspended
PredecessorLaurentian (D&H)
First serviceAugust 6, 1974
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership71,012 (FY24)[a]Increase 164.1%[b][1]
Route
TerminiNew York
Montreal, Quebec
Distance travelled381 miles (613 km)
Average journey time11 hours
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)68 (southbound), 69 (northbound)
On-board services
Class(es)Reserved coach
Catering facilitiesCafe/Lounge car
Technical
Rolling stockAmfleet coaches
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Track owner(s)Metro-North Railroad
CSX Transportation
Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian National Railway

The Adirondack is an intercity rail passenger train operated daily, partially along the Empire Corridor, by Amtrak between New York City and Montreal. The trip takes approximately 11 hours to cover a published distance of 381 miles (613 km), traveling through the scenic Hudson Valley and along the eastern border of the Adirondack Mountains.[2] The Adirondack is financed by the New York State Department of Transportation. It is temporarily suspended as of March 2020 due to the closure of the Canadian/American border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of fall 2022, a service resumption date has not yet been announced.[3][4]

For most of its existence, the Adirondack has been plagued by numerous delays. Amtrak only owns two legs of the route, in Manhattan and between Poughkeepsie and Schenectady. Additionally, the route crosses an international boundary where immigration procedures can take up to two hours. The on-time performance of the route averaged 64.8% for the year ending June 2016. According to Amtrak, 28.8% of the train delay was due to track- and signal-related problems, especially along the Delaware & Hudson segment, which is now owned by Canadian Pacific Railway.[5]

History

The Adirondack at Saratoga Springs in 1980
The Adirondack at Windsor Station in 1982

At the inception of Amtrak on May 1, 1971, the Delaware & Hudson operated two trains between Albany, New York and Montreal: the Montreal Limited (overnight) and the Laurentian (day). Both trains were discontinued, and for three years the D&H line saw no service. Amtrak service to Montreal began with the Montrealer, which ran through Vermont rather than New York, in 1972. The Adirondack began running on August 6, 1974 (with a ceremonial train the previous day) from Grand Central Terminal in New York to Albany, then over the D&H's line to Windsor Station in Montreal.[6][7] From the outset the train operated with financial support from the state of New York.[6] The train initially operated as a section of the New York–Buffalo Empire State Express.[8]

The Adirondack used CP Rail's Windsor Station until January 12, 1986, when it was rerouted to CN Rail's Central Station. Until the Empire Connection was built in 1991, the train served Grand Central Terminal instead of Penn Station in New York City.

As part of an effort to improve on-time performance along the Empire Corridor, Amtrak reached an agreement with CSX to lease the CSX Hudson Subdivision between Poughkeepsie and Schenectady. Starting in 2012, Amtrak effectively took operational control of the Hudson Subdivision, handling all maintenance and capital responsibilities.[9] Even with this move, Amtrak still operates less than half of the trackage along the Adirondack route.

In 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began planning a preclearance facility at Montreal Central Station, which would allow departing passengers to be prescreened in Montreal, where northbound passengers would be processed by the Canada Border Services Agency upon arrival, rather than at the border itself. Presently, the Adirondack must stop at Lacolle, Quebec northbound and Rouses Point, New York southbound for immigration procedures that can take up to two hours.[10] By early 2017, the United States Congress had passed its necessary enabling legislation.[11] The corresponding Canadian legislation was given royal assent in late 2017, though it is yet to enter into force.[12]

On April 10, 2018, Amtrak announced that all trains using the Empire Connection, excluding the Lake Shore Limited, would operate 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's Penn Station.[13]

Due to continuing infrastructure work at Penn Station, the northbound Adirondack ran combined with the northbound Maple Leaf for most of the summer of 2019, splitting in Albany. The two trains ran separately on weekends during July and August.[14]

In March 2020, the Adirondack was truncated to Albany–Rensselaer after all non-essential travel across the Canada-United States border was banned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16] In July 2021, Adirondack service was suspended following the resumption of Ethan Allen Express service to Rutland, which overlaps the Adirondack between New York City and Fort Edward. In October 2022, Amtrak began running crew re-qualification trips in preparation of the train's return. Service from New York City to Albany resumed on December 5, 2022. [17]

Route details

The Adirondack operates over Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak rails:[18]

Unlike the Maple Leaf, which is operated by Via Rail crews in Canada, the Adirondack (like Cascades trains to Vancouver) is operated solely by Amtrak personnel.

Equipment

The Adirondack with D&H equipment in 1974

The Adirondack operates with General Electric P42DC and P32AC-DM units and Amfleet passenger cars. A typical consist includes:

  • 1 P42DC/P32AC-DM locomotive. The P32AC-DM operates between New York and Albany; the P42DC handles the remainder.[2]
  • 1 Amfleet I cafe car[2]
  • 2-4 Amfleet I coach cars[2]
  • 2 Amfleet II coach cars[2]

Unlike other Empire Corridor trains, the Adirondack does not offer business class seating.[2]

The Adirondack debuted in 1974 with D&H equipment, much of it ex-Laurentian, as Amtrak was experiencing equipment shortages. These were supplemented by a pair of Skyline dome cars leased from the Canadian Pacific Railway. Two D&H ALCO PA diesel locomotives hauled each train. On March 1, 1977, new Turboliner gas turbine trainsets took over from the D&H cars. Conventional Amtrak equipment would eventually displace the Turboliners.[20]

Station stops

State/

Province

Town/City Mile (km) Station Connections/Notes
QC Montréal 0 Montreal Via Rail: Québec City–Windsor Corridor, Ocean, Montreal–Jonquière, Montreal–Senneterre
Exo: Mont-Saint-Hilaire line, Mascouche line
Montreal Metro: Orange
STM Bus: 36, 61, 74, 75, 107, 150, 168, 178, 410, 420, 430, 435, 715, 747
Saint-Lambert 4 (6.4) Saint-Lambert Via Rail: Québec City–Windsor Corridor, Ocean
Exo: Mont-Saint-Hilaire line
Bus interchange RTL: 1, 6, 55, 106
Canada–United States border
NY Rouses Point 49 (79) Rouses Point
Plattsburgh 72 (116) Plattsburgh Bus interchange Clinton County Public Transit (at Government Center)
Port Kent 85 (137) Port Kent ferry/water interchange Lake Champlain Transportation: seasonal ferry to Burlington, Vermont. Train stops only on days ferry operates.
Westport 112 (180) Westport Amtrak Amtrak Thruway to Lake Placid
Port Henry 123 (198) Port Henry
Ticonderoga 140 (230) Ticonderoga ferry/water interchange Fort Ticonderoga Ferry: seasonal ferry to Shoreham, Vermont
Whitehall 162 (261) Whitehall
Fort Edward 184 (296) Fort Edward Amtrak Amtrak: Ethan Allen Express
Bus interchange Greater Glens Falls Transit
Saratoga Springs 203 (327) Saratoga Springs Amtrak Amtrak: Ethan Allen Express
Bus interchange Capital District Transportation Authority
Schenectady 222 (357) Schenectady Amtrak Amtrak: Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf
Rensselaer 240 (390) Albany–Rensselaer Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf
Bus interchange Capital District Transportation Authority
Hudson 268 (431) Hudson Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf
Rhinecliff 293 (472) Rhinecliff–Kingston Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf
Poughkeepsie 309 (497) Poughkeepsie Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf
Metro-North Railroad: ■ Hudson Line
Bus interchange Dutchess County Public Transit, City of Poughkeepsie Transit, Ulster County Area Transit
Croton-on-Hudson 349 (562) Croton–Harmon Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf
Metro-North Railroad: ■ Hudson Line
Bus interchange Bee-Line Bus System
Yonkers 367 (591) Yonkers Amtrak Amtrak: Berkshire Flyer, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf
Metro-North Railroad: ■ Hudson Line
Bus interchange Bee-Line Bus System
New York City 381 (613) Penn Station Amtrak Amtrak (long-distance): Cardinal, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
Amtrak Amtrak (intercity): Acela, Berkshire Flyer, Carolinian, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, Northeast Regional, Vermonter
LIRR: ■ Main Line, ■ Port Washington Branch
NJ Transit NJ Transit: ■ North Jersey Coast Line, ■ Northeast Corridor Line, ■ Gladstone Branch, ■ Montclair-Boonton Line, ■ Morristown Line
NYC Subway: "1" train​"2" train​"3" train"A" train​"C" train​"E" train
Bus interchange MTA Bus

References

  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2024 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "ADIRONDACK". TrainWeb. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  3. ^ "No word on return of Amtrak's Adirondack train route following COVID-19 pandemic". September 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Maple Leaf and Adirondack Cross Border Service Resumption Plan".
  5. ^ "Amtrak Route on-time performance for Adirondack service".
  6. ^ a b "Montreal Train Run Commences Today". Schenectady Gazette. August 6, 1974. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  7. ^ Burrs, Edward C. (August 6, 1974). "New York‐Albany‐Montreal Train Is Resumed With a Festive Air". New York Times.
  8. ^ "Historic Rail Service Resumption Set Today". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, New York. August 5, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved June 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ Eric Anderson (October 18, 2011). "Amtrak leasing track corridor". Times-Union. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  10. ^ Bowen, Douglas John (2012-05-11). "Customs relief in sight for Amtrak's Adirondack". RailwayAge.com. Retrieved 22 Jun 2012.
  11. ^ Anderson, Eric (2017-03-19). "Amtrak's Adirondack on track to benefit from customs legislation". Times Union. Albany. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  12. ^ "House Government Bill C-23 (42-1)". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  13. ^ "Most Hudson Line trains to Operate to/from Grand Central Terminal during Infrastructure and Bridge replacement Period" (Press release). Amtrak. April 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Summer 2019 infrastructure alert".
  15. ^ "Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus" (Press release). Amtrak. 2020-03-24. Archived from the original on 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  16. ^ Dickson, Jane (March 18, 2020). "Canada-U.S. border to close except for essential supply chains". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  17. ^ https://www.amtrak.com/adirondack-train
  18. ^ Roberts, Earl W.; Stremes, David P., eds. (2012). Canadian Trackside Guide. Bytown Railway Society, Inc. ISSN 0829-3023.
  19. ^ "Canadian Trackside Guide". www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca.
  20. ^ Amtrak (August 5, 2014). "Celebrating 40 Years of the Adirondack". Retrieved 2014-08-05.

Notes

  1. ^ Route suspended mid-2020 to mid-2023.
  2. ^ Amtrak's Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 of the prior year to September 30 of the named year.
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