PennDOT finalized $200 million agreement with Norfolk Southern to expand rail service
PennDOT announced it has finalized an agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation to expand passenger rail service with a $200 million infrastructure investment on the Pennsylvanian Amtrak line in Western Pennsylvania.
Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once a day. The agreement that Norfolk Southern and PennDOT entered into supports increasing that to twice a day.
The $200 million investment will go toward infrastructure and safety improvements that will be constructed and maintained by Norfolk Southern.
Tracks that will receive infrastructure improvements run directly from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg then to New York City. No tracks in Butler County will be worked on for this project.
PennDOT has applied for grant funds through the Federal Railroad Administration to help pay for these improvements.
“This agreement lays the groundwork for expanded passenger rail service in Western Pennsylvania while simultaneously preserving a critical freight rail corridor,” PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll said. “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.”
According to PennDOT press secretary Alexis Campbell, about 192,000 passengers rode the Pennsylvanian between July 1, 2022 and June 30.
Campbell also said it is estimated that ridership will increase 10% in the first year of service, which is expected to be sometime in 2026.
These future improvements and construction projects will stem from a previously released Norfolk Southern operational feasibility study requested by PennDOT, which includes upgraded rail lines, sidings, and necessary communications signals infrastructure.
“Norfolk Southern is excited to build upon our partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by increasing passenger rail options for the citizens of Pennsylvania while improving the resilience of our infrastructure for the shippers in the Commonwealth,” said Mike McClellan, Norfolk Southern senior vice president and chief strategy officer.
The Pennsylvanian Amtrak 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 is one of the busiest and fastest links on Norfolk Southern’s network, which connects major terminals in Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley.
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads — the most of any state in the country and ranks fifth in total track mileage with more than 5,600 miles according to PennDOT.
