The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will partner with Norfolk Southern (NS) to finalize improvements to increase passenger-rail service west of Harrisburg on the NS-owned corridor.
The collaboration is possible using federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds.
An NS operational feasibility study identified improvements required to eliminate eight chokepoints and allow freight and passenger trains to operate without conflicting with each other.
Once PennDOT and NS finalize an operating agreement, improvements can begin. The agreement will include compensation for the use of NS’s assets, the project’s scope, how freight and passenger operations will both safely use the corridor, and liability protection.
Work will take an estimated five years, and additional service will begin after these improvements are completed.
PennDOT will redirect state Multimodal Transportation Fund money. A 2008 federal law required Pennsylvania to pay approximately $350 million toward train set costs.
NS’s Pittsburgh Line includes train stops in Harrisburg, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Tyrone, Altoona, Johnstown, Latrobe, Greensburg, and Pittsburgh. The line is part of the Premier Corridor, running between Chicago and New York City.
NS trains serve more than 800 customers and deliver or pick up freight at 140-plus stations along the corridor during a typical year.
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads.