Empire Corridor changes for 10/27

[Superliner Diner]

When the new timetables go into effect on October 27th, the EMPIRE CORRIDOR will look a little different. Much of this is to drastic rescheduling of the westbound LAKE SHORE LIMITED and southbound ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS.

As has been mentioned in another thread, Train 49, the LAKE SHORE LIMITED, and its Boston section, Train 449, have been moved almost 4 hours earlier effective 10/27. Because of this:

* Train 283, the last New York-Niagara Falls train of the day, has been moved two hours later, to a 3:45 PM New York City departure.

* Train 257, a New York City-Albany train, is swapped with 283, so it now leaves New York 1:45 PM.

* Train 289, which ran on Fridays only as an extended version of 259 west of Albany to Syracuse, functioned as a relief train to reduce heavier Friday passenger loads on the LAKE SHORE LIMITED within New York State. With the latter's rescheduling, this function will no longer be necessary. And the costly deadheading of this train from Syracuse to Albany will no longer be necessary. The train will continue to function as 259 on Fridays, just like the rest of the weekdays, terminating in Albany.

On weekends, New York City-Albany will gain one frequency, since 257 will now run on weekends (currently Monday-Friday).

Generally, most northbound trains have had about 5 minutes removed from their New York-Albany travel time.

The weekday morning departure from Schenectady, 246, has been eliminated. That train now originates in Albany.

The southbound ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS on weekdays and Saturdays, 294, will now run 4 hours earlier than before. It will depart Rutland at 9:10 AM (vs. 1:20 PM now), and it will become the 12:00 Noon departure from Albany for New York, replacing current train 256. Other effects of this change:

* Current Train 262, the 3:15 PM departure from Albany, is renumbered 260.

* The 4:15 PM slot out of Albany vacated by 294 will be covered by a new daily Train 262.

* Sunday-only ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS 296 will continue on its current schedule.

* On Sundays, 256 will run in the 12 Noon timeslot out of Albany.

* Sunday-only Train 264 is also replaced by the daily 262.

 

[Amfleet]

Thanks for the update Superliner Diner. Also note that #145 BOS-WAS via SPG has been anulled so there is only one direct BOS-SPG train per day, #449, unless you go down to NHV and connect to a SPG shuttle.

 

[Superliner Diner]

Thanks for the update Superliner Diner. smile.gif Also note that #145 BOS-WAS via SPG has been anulled so there is only one direct BOS-SPG train per day, #449, unless you go down to NHV and connect to a SPG shuttle. #142 will still operate between WAS-BOS via SPG on its normal schedule along with #448.

And if you stay tuned, I'll get to the Northeast Corridor (including the Inland Route) next, as soon as I sort it all out. :unsure:

 

[Viewliner]

Thanks for your continuing to keep us (Amtrak) railfans up to date on the schedule changes, your resources and posts are valuable.

 

[Superliner Diner]

A couple of things that I missed in the original post above:

The northbound ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS, Train 291, will operate from New York City at 2:45 PM every day except Fridays. The Friday 2:45 PM timeslot is filled by a new 255 terminating in Albany.

On Fridays, the ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS runs later as Train 293, leaving New York City 5:30 PM. Unlike a previous Friday-only train, it makes local stops. The 5:30 slot out of New York on the other 6 days of the week is still 265.

Southbound, the formerly daily Train 248 is now split into a weekday and weekend version. Weekday Train 248 departs Albany at 7:55 AM, while its weekend counterpart 252 departs 5 minutes later at 8 AM.