Pennsylvania, Amtrak reach agreement to save service

The state of Pennsylvania and Amtrak have reached an agreement on a new funding plan that will maintain rail passenger service between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pa.

Under the revised agreement, Pennsylvania’s contribution will be $3.8 million a year to maintain the service on the Amtrak Pennsylvanian line, featuring one train a day in each direction between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The through service continues to and from Philadelphia and New York City.

“I applaud Amtrak for its willingness to work with my administration on a funding plan that makes sense for Pennsylvania in these difficult economic times and maintains this passenger rail service that provides important connections for many towns in western Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said.

The service is subject to a new funding agreement that requires Amtrak to recover more costs than it did previously. Initial funding estimates for the Pennsylvanian totaled $6.5 million a year.

“Amtrak is pleased to have reached an agreement with our partners in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to preserve the Pennsylvanian,” said Joe Boardman, president of Amtrak.