Description
PennDOT, Amtrak, and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) are working together to support modification and expansion of the state-supported Pennsylvanian service between Pittsburgh and New York City from one to two daily trains in each direction. In order to mitigate train delays that would result from increasing the frequency of the Pennsylvanian service, NS will construct a set of 11 infrastructure projects along the NS-owned rail between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh to improve operational reliability for both passenger and freight trains on the shared corridor.
The work will add capacity and improve routing flexibility specifically in the Harrisburg and Altoona areas, where train congestion most impacts passenger rail service. Additional crossovers will be constructed at key locations to allow train passes and manage operating passenger trains due to single platforms at some stations.
The entire set of projects are anticipated to be complete by 2030.
Early Action improvements were initiated to facilitate commencement of the second daily train, anticipated for late 2026. The existing Pennsylvanian will continue its current operation and schedule up to the launch of the second frequency.
The infrastructure projects include: (*denotes Early Action)
- Johnstown (west) new interlocking*
- Enola new main line and interlocking configuration improvements*
- Lemoyne Connector Track to Enola Yard*
- Camp Hill Connector Track upgrades*
- Mifflin interlocking upgrades
- Hawstone interlocking upgrades
- Johnstown (east) interlocking upgrades
- Pittsburgh interlocking upgrades
- Pittsburgh Station new main line
- Harrisburg new main line and interlocking configuration improvements
- Altoona new main line and interlocking configuration improvements
In December 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro announced over $140 million in passenger rail investments though the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program and the Corridor Identification and Development program. These funds will help support the expansion of passenger rail along the Keystone West corridor between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. To support the expanded operations, the Commonwealth has invested more than $85 million towards construction underway or completed.
