JOHNSTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania will double Amtrak’s daily Pennsylvanian service between Pittsburgh and New York City beginning Nov. 18, expanding passenger rail capacity along the 444-mile corridor following more than $80 million in state investment and a $143 million federal funding commitment for infrastructure improvements.
The expansion will increase service from one to two daily round trips, adding travel options between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York City, along with intermediate communities.
Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll confirmed the start date Tuesday following coordination among the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Amtrak and Norfolk Southern, which operates the freight corridor used by the Pennsylvanian west of Harrisburg.
Tickets for the additional service are scheduled to become available this week through Amtrak’s website and mobile application.
The expansion follows years of planning to accommodate more passenger trains on Norfolk Southern’s Pittsburgh Line, a heavily used freight route connecting western and eastern Pennsylvania.
In 2023, Pennsylvania secured $143 million in federal passenger rail funding to support infrastructure and safety improvements necessary for the additional service. State investments exceeding $80 million have also supported the project, with some construction completed and other work continuing.
Norfolk Southern is responsible for completing the remaining improvements, supported by federal funding and additional Commonwealth transportation investments.
The Pittsburgh Line forms part of Norfolk Southern’s Premier Corridor, which carries double-stack intermodal freight between the Chicago region and metropolitan New York.
Adding passenger service along the corridor requires coordination with freight operations, making infrastructure capacity and operational reliability central to the expansion.
“Thanks to a critical investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, years of hard work and collaboration, and the tireless advocacy of the community and elected officials, we have reached this exciting milestone,” Carroll said.
The additional train will offer coach and business-class seating, onboard Wi-Fi and café service.
Amtrak Board Member Rob Gleason, who chairs the railroad’s System Growth Committee, said the additional round trip will provide travelers with more scheduling flexibility while strengthening connections across Pennsylvania.
Norfolk Southern Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan emphasized the need to expand passenger options while maintaining freight operations.
“Norfolk Southern is proud to support efforts that expand transportation options for Pennsylvanians while maintaining the safe and efficient movement of freight across the Commonwealth,” McClellan said.
The Pennsylvanian provides an east-west passenger rail connection across Pennsylvania, with additional travel connections available through Amtrak’s broader network.
The service increase is part of Pennsylvania’s broader passenger rail investment program, which also includes efforts to restore rail service between Scranton and New York Penn Station.
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads and more than 5,500 miles of track, ranking first nationally in the number of railroads and third in total track mileage.
According to the 2025 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan, approximately 169 million tons of freight moved across the state’s rail system in 2022.
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