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Good news for anyone who’s ever forked over triple digits for a last-minute Amtrak ticket up the Hudson: A cheaper ride is on the way. Starting spring 2026, Metro-North will extend its service all the way to Albany-Rensselaer (its first time doing so since 1967), with one daily round-trip from Grand Central Terminal for about $40 each way.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the expansion earlier this week, calling it “a huge win for riders” and “a creative solution” to years of steep fares and limited options along one of New York’s busiest rail corridors.
“New Yorkers deserve more and they certainly demand more,” Hochul said at the Albany-Rensselaer station during an official event. “That’s why I pushed Amtrak and the MTA to join forces together and see if we couldn’t find some creative solutions and tackle this issue head-on.”
The new line will follow Metro-North’s existing Hudson Line route from Grand Central through Poughkeepsie, then continue north through Rhinecliff and Hudson before arriving in Albany. Officials say the service will initially include one daily round-trip—departing mid-morning from Grand Central and returning from Albany in the afternoon—but more could follow if ridership takes off. We have faith!
The move comes after Amtrak cut two of its daily New York-Albany trains earlier this year, leaving fewer seats and sky-high prices in their wake. In response, Hochul pressed the state-run MTA to step in and fill the gap. Amtrak simultaneously announced that it will restore one round-trip route beginning December 1 and—finally—cap coach fares between the two cities at $99, down from the eye-watering $109 price tag that some one-way tickets reached this year.
Amtrak President Roger Harris praised the collaboration, saying, “New York State residents and visitors’ passion and patience are paying off, as additional, affordable and improved train service between New York City and Albany is on its way.”
For regulars on the Hudson line, it’s a long-overdue expansion that could make spontaneous upstate trips and Capitol commutes far more affordable. And since the new route departs from Grand Central, East Siders can skip the Penn Station shuffle altogether.
Metro-North’s Hudson Line already boasts some of the most scenic rail views in the country—think cliffside tracks hugging the river from Spuyten Duyvil to Hudson Highlands. Soon, those vistas will stretch all the way to Albany—and your wallet won’t have to suffer for the ride.