AMTRAK, Via Rail Canada, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have announced the resumption of the Adirondack cross-border train between New York and Montreal after three years of suspension as a Covid-19 pandemic health measure.
Funding for the train’s return to operation has been provided through US president Mr Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Amtrak service, passes through the scenic and historically important Hudson Valley, North Country and Lake Champlain regions of New York State via Poughkeepsie, Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, before crossing the Canadian border into Quebec. It is due to resume operation on April 3 when a northbound service will depart from New York Penn Station at 08.00, arriving at Montreal Central Station at 20.16. The first southbound train since 2020 will run the following day, departing Montreal at 11.10 and arriving in New York at 22.15.
Amenities onboard the Adirondack include free Wi-Fi, restriction-free use of mobile phones and electronic devices, a café car and spacious seats offering ample legroom.
Cross-border passengers will be required to meet certain entry requirements for both the US and Canada. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for foreign nationals entering the US, but is not an essential requirement for northbound passengers crossing the border into Canada.
US politicians and transport agencies have stressed that communities along the route have suffered during the train’s absence, as well as emphasising the benefits to tourist traffic of its s revival.
“I urged Amtrak to reopen the line for months and I’m proud to be announcing that it will be resuming service ahead of the busy summer tourist season,” says New York State Democrat senator, Ms Kirsten Gillibrand.
