(The following appeared on the Albany Times-Union website on February 15, 2011.)
ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak’s budget proposal for fiscal 2012 includes requests for 40 new passenger coaches for its Acela Express high-speed trains, but no specific items for the Empire Corridor or other upstate New York routes.
The national passenger railroad is seeking $2.22 billion, including $1.285 billion in capital investments.
Amtrak has made smaller investments upstate in recent years, including projects to improve accessibility for those with disabilities at stations in Buffalo, Amsterdam and Fort Edward. But other projects, including a fourth track and longer platforms at the Rensselaer station, still await funding.
The full story appears at www.timesunion.com.