Pennsylvania is developing its next federally required five-year plan for rail service, but many of the projects are already known and underway.
At an online meeting Tuesday on the 2025 plan, Department of Transportation officials outlined work that will bring back a second Amtrak passenger train between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and renew service between Scranton and New York City. The plan helps the state acquire funds through the Federal Railroad Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Since few major changes were made during the pandemic that began during the previous five-year plan, the state’s goals for improving the condition of rail facilities, safety and expanding freight and rail service remain the same, said Angela Watson, director of rail, freight, ports and waterways for PennDOT. Fewer major projects moved ahead during the pandemic because passenger traffic, in particular, was sharply reduced.
Amtrak ridership in the state was just over 6.5 million in 2019, before COVID-19. Although ridership was up 35% last year, it was still below the pre-pandemic level.
Officials and rail advocates are hopeful that will change when Amtrak begins a second daily trip for the Pennsylvanian between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, the area known as Keystone West. Passengers also will be able to continue to New York City.
Last year, the state received a $143.6 million FRA grant to help pay for an estimated $200 million in station upgrades and sidetrack installations at stations to allow freight trains to pull aside to let faster passenger trains pass on tracks owned by freight-carrier Norfolk Southern.
Norfolk Southern is in charge of station improvements at Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Portage, Altoona and Harrisburg that will make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The railroad also will install the sidetracks and new signals in most locations.
Amtrak also has ordered new Airo trains, which can go up to 125 miles an hour, for the new service.
The second daily trip between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh is expected to start in fall 2026.
The state also is planning upgrades to dormant tracks in the corridor between Scranton and New York City, which haven’t been used for more than 30 years. Some tracks will be replaced there, but there won’t be any conflict with freight traffic.
PennDOT will have another meeting in June to present its draft plan before it is submitted for federal approval.
Information from Tuesday’s meeting and a survey about rail service are available at advancingparail.com.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.