Structural problems in New York City’s parking lots are causing headaches for Amtrak passengers traveling between the Big Apple and Albany.
Service was suspended Sunday afternoon after authorities discovered numerous “structural issues” at the garage on Manhattan’s 10th Avenue. It turns out that Amtrak’s Empire Line runs under a depot on the west side of the island.
The outage continued on Monday.
A spokesperson for the Department of Buildings told News 4 that the garage owner was contacted Friday by an engineer about a hole in the entrance ramp to the parking lot, and then DOB, FDNY and NYCEM officials were contacted. was taken to the scene to inspect the problem.
This is a photo of the two holes directly above the tracks.
DOB officials issued an order to vacate the depot, and Amtrak planned to install “overhead protection” above the tracks below to maintain normal service. That only lasted until Sunday.
By that morning, the installer alerted DOB to further structural defects in the steel beams. Additional cracks and deterioration discovered Sunday proved to be a major safety concern, prompting the suspension of service on the Empire Line between New York City and Albany.
Travelers affected by the suspension have the option of using their tickets on Metro-North between Croton-Harmon Station and New York Penn Station in Westchester County.
Passengers can call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL for ticket assistance. Amtrak said change and cancellation fees will be waived for travelers whose travel is affected by the suspension.
Mayor Eric Adams wrote on and ensured the safety of pedestrians. Emergency work is underway.” The order was issued quickly so parking lot owners could begin to address the problem. ”
The MTA said Metro-North’s Hudson Line is not affected by the ongoing issue. As of Monday morning, it remained unclear how long the outage would last.
Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said railroad officials don’t know when full service will be restored.
New York City officials are inspecting parking garages after a three-story parking garage in Lower Manhattan collapsed in April, killing one worker, injuring several others, and crushing dozens of cars. Reinforced.