Pittsburgh Amtrak Service To Double

HARRISBURG, PA — Pittsburgh Amtrak passenger rail service will double under an agreement announced Friday between PennDOT and Norfolk Southern Corp.

Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels round trip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. Under the new agreement, Pennsylvanian passenger services will increase to twice a day.

PennDOT and Norfolk Southern did not indicate Friday when the expanded service will begin.

“Ensuring more Pennsylvanians have access to safe and reliable transportation to Western PA will reduce commute times, help connect hundreds of thousands of residents, and boost local economies," PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a release. "This expansion of service on the Pennsylvanian will provide key mobility and economic benefits.”

To support the expanded passenger operations, the state will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements that will be constructed and maintained by Norfolk Southern. PennDOT has applied for Federal Railroad Administration grants to help pay for the upgrades.