AASHTO Journal - PennDOT Helps Add Passenger Train to New York City

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will help launch additional train service between New York City and Pittsburgh – via Harrisburg – starting in mid-November, following close collaboration with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern.

[Above photo via PennDOT]

The Pennsylvanian travels Norfolk Southern’s Pittsburgh Line, which is part of the Premier Corridor, a main artery for double-stack intermodal traffic moving between Chicago and metropolitan New York. It also serves as a key passenger rail route connecting Pennsylvania from east to west.

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Line is one of the busiest and fastest links on Norfolk Southern’s network, connecting with major terminals in Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley. In a typical year, more than half of Norfolk Southern’s time-sensitive parcels and less-than-truckload shipments use the route at some point.

In 2023, to support increasing the passenger rail frequency on that rail line, Pennsylvania received $143 million in federal passenger rail funding to help fund the design and construction of remaining improvements that Norfolk Southern will complete.

“This momentous milestone was made possible by the department successfully securing federal infrastructure funding and the [Governor Josh Shapiro (D)] administration’s nonstop coordination with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern,” said Mike Carroll, PennDOT secretary, in a statement.

“Combined with the relentless advocacy of elected officials and community members along this corridor, this tireless work is making this long-awaited service expansion a reality,” he noted.

Amtrak said it anticipates beginning ticket sales for the additional Pennsylvanian train in October, ahead of the start of service. “The second daily Pennsylvanian train will give customers more travel options and convenience between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, and communities along the route,” added Robert Gleason, one of Amtrak’s board members.

“This expansion highlights the strong partnership between Amtrak, PennDOT, and Norfolk Southern and our shared commitment to improving mobility and connectivity across Pennsylvania,” he said.