Massarah Mikati is reporting for the Times Union Amtrak is preparing to shift its upstate trains back to Grand Central Terminal this summer. Kevin Chittenden, Amtrak's Empire District general superintendent, said March 10, the plan is to close the double-track Empire Connector that runs from the Metro-North commuter railroad mainline for rehabilitation work for three months. The work will divert all upstate trains to Grand Central. "The Spuyten Duyvil Bridge was flooded after Sandy and suffered significant damage on the base of the bridge that needs to be repaired," Chittenden said. "While the bridge is being repaired we're going to take advantage of other work that needs to be done on the Empire Connector." The work will include track and tunnel repairs to the Empire Connector, much of which has not been upgraded since the 1980s and 1990s. Chittenden said he could not yet comment on changes to train schedules. Read the full story in the Times Union.