Empire Service — Schedules, Fares & Stops

The Empire Service connects New York, NY and Niagara Falls, NY over a 460-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 15 stations across 1 state.

Quick Facts

Operator: Amtrak
Service type: Regional Intercity
Endpoints: New York ↔ Niagara Falls
Distance: 460 mi
Frequency: 13 daily trains New York–Albany; multiple trains continue to Niagara Falls
Stations: 15
States served: 1 (NY)
Typical fare range: $25 – $135

Route guide

The Empire Service is a regional intercity service operated by Amtrak. Trains run 13 daily trains New York–Albany; multiple trains continue to Niagara Falls over 460 miles of mainline track between Moynihan Train Hall and Niagara Falls, calling at 15 intermediate and terminal stations across 1 state. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: The Hudson River from Yonkers to Albany — a roughly 140-mile run with the Palisades, the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Catskills, and the river itself nearly continuously in view.

History & service notes

The Empire Service inherits the right-of-way of the New York Central’s former Water Level Route and Empire State Express. New Siemens Charger locomotives replaced GE Genesis power on most trains in 2024. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Empire Service includes amfleet I and II coaches with Charger SC-44 diesel-electric locomotives. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from New York to Niagara Falls. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

From	To	Distance	Time	Fare
New York	Yonkers	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Yonkers	Croton-on-Hudson	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Croton-on-Hudson	Poughkeepsie	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Poughkeepsie	Rhinecliff	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Rhinecliff	Hudson	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Hudson	Rensselaer	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Rensselaer	Schenectady	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Schenectady	Amsterdam	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Amsterdam	Utica	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Utica	Syracuse	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Syracuse	Rochester	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Rochester	Depew	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Depew	Buffalo	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Buffalo	Niagara Falls	33 mi	50m	$11 – $60
Yonkers	Niagara Falls	427 mi	8h 42m	$24 – $129
New York	Croton-on-Hudson	66 mi	1h 29m	$12 – $66
Croton-on-Hudson	Niagara Falls	394 mi	8h 3m	$23 – $123
New York	Poughkeepsie	99 mi	2h 9m	$13 – $71

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From New York, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Niagara Falls. The corridor passes through cities including New York, Yonkers, and Niagara Falls, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Empire Service's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.