Rough Travel at LaGuardia Airport Pushes New Yorkers to Choose Amtrak
In the midst of continuous delays and cancellations at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New Yorkers are opting for a more reliable mode of transportation: Amtrak. The recent Air Canada crash and ongoing TSA-related disruptions at LGA have caused chaos and frustration for travelers.
Instead of dealing with the uncertainty and confusion at the airport, many are turning to Amtrak for their travel needs. In a post on Reddit titled “Thank God for Amtrak,” one user shared their positive experience with the train service.
“After seeing all that is going on with TSA and, in my case, LGA, I am super grateful that I could easily get between DC and NYC with no issues,” the post reads. “Amtrak really is the best way to go by far.
The increasing popularity of Amtrak is reflected in their record-breaking ridership numbers from last year and a 4. 7% increase in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Amtrak media center. Meanwhile, disruptions at LGA continue to mount.
Cancellations and Delays at LGA Push Travelers Toward Amtrak
Data from FlightAware over the past three days shows that LGA has been experiencing between 19 and 135 cancellations each day, with consistently high numbers of flight delays. This weekend, the total cancellations and delays at LGA were 135 and 543 respectively on Friday, 19 and 152 on Saturday, and 121 and 420 on Sunday.
However, LGA is not the only airport struggling with disruptions during the current government shutdown. Earlier this month, TSA warned travelers of potential small airport closures as wait times reached record highs. In contrast, Amtrak has received praise for maintaining its reliability amidst the shutdown.
Amtrak Praised by Travelers During Partial Government Shutdown
Unlike airports that heavily rely on government funding, Amtrak has been able to continue operating normally during the shutdown. This is because the company has enough “cash on hand” to keep trains running and employees paid, according to the Rail Passengers Association. However, this could change if the shutdown persists.
“Amtrak can’t operate indefinitely without receiving payments to its operations account for the Northeast Corridor and National Network,” the association stated on their website. “Based on prior experience, it is very unlikely that the shutdown will last long enough to affect Amtrak’s day-to-day operations.
Despite this, passengers believe there should be more funding allocated to Amtrak. Many have taken to Reddit to praise the rail company for maintaining its standards in light of the current situation.
One Reddit user stated, “A fully funded Amtrak with proper ROW would be unstoppable. The mere fact that 2025 was their record year in spite of the current hostile federal administration says something.
Another added, “If Amtrak [were] properly funded and given right of way, anything under a 12-hour drive should be