Rail service between NYC and Montreal began again April 3rd, and people are already buying their tickets.
The Adirondack line came to a halting stop in March of 2020.
This due to the American and Canadian border closing from the COVID 19 Pandemic.
3 years later, the first northbound Adirondack train departed Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station (NYP) at 8:41 a.m. on Monday, April 3rd, and will arrive in Canada’s Gare Centrale/Central Station in Montreal at 8:16 p.m.
"This rail connection is of critical importance economic importance to Ticonderoga" said Ticonderoga Supervisor Mark Wright "and to the region here, and with the Summer tourist season soon beginning this couldn't have come at a more opportune time."
19 communities have stops along the way, impacting thousands of people.
Several lawmakers have pushed Amtrak to get this line back up and running.
“The Adirondack line’s years-long closure has been economically harmful to many of the communities along its route,” said Senator Gillibrand. “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. This is an important development and I will keep fighting to provide the North Country with the resources and services it needs to thrive.”
In a letter to Amtrak – U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote
"In Fiscal Year 2019, the last full fiscal year before the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Adirondack saw 117,490 riders, an increase of 5.1 percent compared to FY18."
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik also pushing to reopen the line, she announced the tickets back on sale in a press release--and wrote:
“I am proud to announce that we are one step closer to resuming full service of the Adirondack Line to Montreal by April 3," said Rep Elise Stefanik . "Families in my district rely on the Adirondack Line for transportation, and it serves a significant economic driver, connecting tourists and our Canadian neighbors, to our region. I will continue to work with Amtrak to deliver the return of this important service for Upstate New York and the North Country and look forward to sharing more details soon.”
"We opened in June 2020" said Fort Edward Evergreen bicycle works Co-owner Kyle Cozzens "so once it starts back up this will be the first time it's run through with us here."
Located at the Adirondack train station in Fort Edward, the Co-Owner of Evergreen bicycle works says he's already seen the impact of tourism im the area with Amtrak's Ethan Allen train line back in service.
Cozzens says with Adirondack on schedule to reopen, they expect more opportunity for their business and others to grow.
"We have a growing downtown" said Cozzens "so it's good to have people coming through that can eat at our restaurants, visit the local brewery , and also you can take your bike on the train."
I asked Amtrak why there's been a delay in the Adirondack line getting up and running again, as other lines closed by the pandemic have already reopened and a spokesperson said:
" In 2022 the 500 new and current employees throughout New York State needed to be retrained to meet federal railroad requirements creating a delay as those requirements are only valid for one year."
The representative also says Amtrak is excited to return and begin running this service.