Empire State Passengers Association

06/16/2026

More on the Penn Station proposal.

Past efforts have broken the hearts of architects and politicians. Thanks to a new design and financing approach—and a real-estate developer in the White House—a plan is on track.

06/16/2026

To put into context the discussion of New York State Amtrak fares, here is a comparison between the fares from June 1971; these fares adjusted for inflation to 2026 and the current 2026 fares.

The fact is that the current fares are a relative bargain when compared to 1971 on an inflation adjusted basis!

06/16/2026

More details on the new high-level platform currently under construction at Saratoga Springs!

It’s part of a national push to make Amtrak stations more accessible.

06/15/2026

Buffalo News Letter-to-the-Editor: New York's Amtrak rates are too high

Fares across Upstate New York can be more than twice as expensive on a per mile basis than other state-supported routes that travel between more populous metropolitan areas.

06/15/2026

Saratoga Springs Construction Update | Work continues (Monday 06/15) on the concrete supports for the new high-level platform. The northbound 'Adirondack' and southbound 'Ethan Allen' arrived at the station almost simultaneously, the Ethan Allen waiting for the Adirondack to complete detraining/boarding before pulling up to the platform.

06/09/2026

Views of the ongoing construction of the new high-level platform at Saratoga Springs on Tuesday (06/09/2026) afternoon.

06/09/2026

Among the issues that would have to be addressed is transportation for athletes and spectators between New York City and Lake Placid. Gillibrand says one idea is high-speed rail. “How amazing would it be to have one from New York through Albany, up to Lake Placid and on to Montreal! It would be transformative. And I’ve already started meeting with the stakeholders in New York City and our mass transit experts in the state and they are putting together actual proposals. Faster transportation between the two venues, that’s what I want to work on. And it could be a legacy for New York. To have any part of high-speed rail would be tremendous for the long-term economic growth of our state.”

WMAC NE Public Radio | Senator Kirsten Gillibrand backs New York Olympic bid
https://www.wamc.org/news/2026-06-08/winter-olympics-new-york-bid-kirsten-gillibrand

The idea of a possible Lake Placid-New York City Winter Olympics is gaining traction among state leaders.

06/09/2026

HISTORIC AGAIN: President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, Amtrak, and Penn Transformation Partners (Halmar & Skanska) Unveil Design for Overhaul of New York Penn Station. Stunning renderings, video, and website provide an in-depth preview of how the Trump Administration will deliver a world-class transit hub in the heart of New York City.

AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE
https://media.amtrak.com/2026/06/historic-again-president-trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-amtrak-and-penn-transformation-partners-halmar-skanska-unveil-design-for-overhaul-of-new-york-penn-station/

PENN TRANSFORMATION WEBSITE
https://www.penntransformation.com/

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
https://www.archpaper.com/2026/06/penn-station-pau-amtrak/

The busiest station in the Western Hemisphere is about to be the best. Penn Transformation Partners is leading the reimagining of Amtrak's New York Penn Station, creating a seamless, world-class experience for visitors and commuters. Breaking ground 2027.

06/08/2026

Looks like this project is real.

Local developer Ben Fain shared his vision for the site, which has housed vacant industrial buildings for almost 20 years.

06/05/2026

Stew's High Speed Rail News June 2026 | California High Speed Rail releases it's business plan, Brightline and Brightline West navigate their financial troubles, the Northeast Corridor sees progress, and Alto planning continues. All this and more in the North American high speed rail news for the month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ezehFGk2c&t=6s

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