Amtrak service temporarily suspended between New York City and Albany
NEW YORK -- Amtrak service was suspended between Albany and New York City on Sunday.
Albany-bound Empire Line trains were canceled Sunday because of what Amtrak called unforeseen track closures. It stemmed from a privately owned building in Hell's Kitchen that's above the tracks.
"I just don't know what's happening and that never happens," Amtrak rider Nayara Lopes said.
Caution tape was seen wrapped around the Icon parking garage on 51st Street between 10th and 11th avenues on Sunday night.
"Knowing it's literally the structure and infrastructure, I mean, we can get mad at the overall system, and say 'You gotta check out that infrastructure more often,' but any specific person, it's hard to hold accountable. That's just the way life goes," rider Maya Ali said.
Watch Kristie Keleshian's report
The Department of Buildings referred CBS New York to City Hall, which confirmed that the parking garage has "structural issues," saying, "DOB immediately issued emergency work orders and ordered the owners of the parking garage to contract an engineer to address the issue."
A vacate order and sign posted outside the closed parking garage show that it was closed since Friday, but Amtrak announced the cancellations on Sunday afternoon.
"I mean, I'm glad they're rerouting and taking care of it, but, yeah, I mean structures get old," rider Hannah Garrison said.
Service Temporarily Suspended between New York and Croton-Harmon. pic.twitter.com/kkoD2fvDw9
— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNECAlerts) November 13, 2023
There were long lines at Moynihan Train Hall on Sunday evening from the ripple effects of the cancellations. Amtrak told riders that it is also temporarily suspending service between the city and Croton-Harmon. It putting out notifications that included eight canceled trains. Some are just hoping the disruptions won't make them late to work Monday.
School teacher Annemarie Deuel she needs to make it to work in the morning or, "There's gonna be some sub plans written last minute."
Editor's note: This story is from Sunday, Nov. 12. For our coverage of the Amtrak suspension on Monday, Nov. 13, please click here.