Pittsburgh could get a second daily train to New York under a multimillion-dollar agreement between the state and Norfolk Southern Corp.
The agreement would put the public on the hook for $200 million in “infrastructure and safety improvements” that are needed to add another Amtrak passenger train to Norfolk Southern’s already-busy Pittsburgh Line, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The agency didn’t say whether the agreement would give right-of-way priority to passenger or freight trains.
The lone daily train between Pittsburgh and New York — Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian, which passes through Harrisburg and Philadelphia — leaves Downtown at 7:30 a.m. on its way eastbound. Its westbound companion train arrives about 8 p.m.
Doubling the number of trains on the route would have “key” economic benefits, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a statement from the agency.
“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,” Mr. Carroll said.
The agency applied for grants from the Federal Railroad Administration to help pay for the enormous project, which would cost about as much as the entire annual budget of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.
The improvements necessary for another passenger train, including upgrades to communication systems and the rail line itself, were identified in a study Norfolk Southern conducted at PennDOT’s request, according to the agency.
The Pittsburgh Line is a crucial part of what’s known as the Premier Corridor, a “main artery” for double-stack freight trains traveling between Chicago and New York, making it one of the busiest portions of Norfolk Southern’s sprawling rail network.
A Norfolk Southern executive noted the publicly financed project would have benefits both to passenger rail and the railroad’s own customers, more than 800 of whom depend on the Premier Corridor.
“This is a win-win agreement that would not be possible without the dedication and collaboration of our state officials, who share our vision for enhanced rail service across the Keystone State,” said Mike McClellan, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Norfolk Southern.
PennDOT gave no timeline for the project.
First Published: September 23, 2023, 9:34 p.m.
Updated: September 24, 2023, 3:10 a.m.
