It looks like the big Metro-North expansion that was supposed to carry riders straight from Grand Central to Albany has officially been shelved. Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that Amtrak will fully restore all Empire Service trains between New York City and Albany by early March, making the highly anticipated Metro-North run to Albany unnecessary. Metro-North’s Albany Adventure Comes to an EndThe plan to run Metro-North past Poughkeepsie had sparked a lot of excitement in the Hudson Valley. For those who were hoping for a direct Metro-North ride to Albany, the idea is sadly off the table for now. Governor Hochul says she’ll keep pushing for better transit throughout the Hudson Valley and Capital Region, which may cause Metro-North to one day revisit the idea of service to Albany.