The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) finalized an agreement with Norfolk Southern to expand passenger rail service on the Pennsylvanian Amtrak line in Western PA. on Friday.

The Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. The new agreement would move this to twice daily. 

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the expansion will "reduce commute times, help connect hundreds of thousands of residents, and boost local economies." 

To support these expanded passenger operations, Pennsylvania is investing more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements that will be constructed and maintained by Norfolk Southern. PennDOT has applied for grant funds through the Federal Railroad Administration to help pay for these improvements.

The Pennsylvanian rail route, in conjunction with the Capitol Limited, contents riders with Cleveland, and Chicago. The Pennsylvanian travels Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line, which is part of the Premier Corridor, a main artery for moving between Chicago and metropolitan New York. 

Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, the most of any state in the country, and ranks fifth in total track mileage with more than 5,600 miles. The 2020 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan (PDF) reported that in 2017, 193.5 million tons of freight in 4.9 million railcars moved over the state's rail transportation system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The future improvements and construction will stem from a previously released Norfolk Southern operational feasibility study requested by PennDOT and includes upgraded rail lines, sidings, and necessary communications signals infrastructure. The renegotiated agreement with Norfolk Southern for the infrastructure work needed to support the additional Pennsylvanian ensures that safety and the best interests of the Commonwealth are fully addressed.