Empire Service changes Options

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak quietly put out a new Empire Service timetable effective July 30th, and didn't tell me about it.

Here are the changes to look out for:

The system timetable shows Train 257 as running Sundays through Fridays. It now runs Mondays through Fridays. In an unorthodox move, the service is replaced by special discharge-only stops made by the Chicago-bound LAKE SHORE LIMITED, Train 49, on Sundays only at Rhinecliff-Kingston and Hudson. No LSL service to Yonkers or Poughkeepsie, and the Croton-Harmon stop remains "receive-only". The LSL makes the two extra stops about 6-8 minutes later than 257 did.

There are several changes in the New York City-bound direction. Train 296, previously the Sunday-only ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS, now runs Saturdays and Sundays. This move is to pick up the race track crowd at Saratoga. Previously Saturday EAE service was provided by a morning Train 292, but now that train just runs on Mondays. The Saturday Albany-New York City timeslot that was held by 292 is now covered by a new 272, operating on the same exact schedule. Train 262, the 4:15 PM Albany departure for New York City, now runs every day except Saturdays (used to run daily).