ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak has suspended operation of its Empire Service west of Albany, along with the Lake Shore Limited, because of a “potential safety concern with a non-Amtrak, privately owned building” located near the rail line.
WNYT-TV reports the building involved is the Central Warehouse. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan has declared a state of emergency, citing a structural engineering report that says collapse of the structure’s southerly wall — the one closest to the Amtrak route — is considered imminent.
“We are working closely with local, state, and federal partners and engineering experts to determine the extend to the structural failure and develop a plan to insure the safety of our residents and businesses,” Sheehan said in a statement, “and get the trains running on time and interstate commerce back on track.”
The 12-story structure at 143 Montgomery Street in Albany was built in 1927 but has been mostly empty since 1990. It features thick concrete walls; it has been estimated that demolition and asbestos abatement would exceed $10 million, according to WTEN-TV. Two investment groups made a proposal to purchase and redevelop the 500,000-square-foot structure earlier this year.
Amtrak announced the suspension of service in a post on its website at midnight.
Full service will continue between Albany and New York City. The Lake Shore Limited scheduled to depart Chicago Thursday evening was cancelled, as was the westbound Lake Shore Limited scheduled to depart Boston today, according to the Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed. As of 8:30 a.m., tonight’s eastbound departure from Chicago is still shown as operating, according to the train-status feature on the Amtrak website.
The Ethan Allen Express, which beginning today is extending its route to reach Burlington, Vt., and uses the same route through Albany, will operate a bus bridge between Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Albany.
The company has not yet responded to a request from Trains News Wire for additional information.
— Updated at 10:42 a.m. CDT with additional information on building involved; updated at 1 p.m. with information on Ethan Allen Express.
