Amtrak and PennDOT to add additional Keystone service trains

Credit: Amtrak

In coordination with state partners at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Amtrak is adding additional Keystone Service trains (operating between Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York) in response to anticipated increased demand starting from 25 April 2022. Two new weekday trains will also be added and on the weekends, all pre-pandemic Philadelphia to Harrisburg service will be fully restored.

“Rail provides a convenient and safe travel option,” Jennie Louwerse, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation at PennDOT, said. “After a long period of reduced schedules, PennDOT is pleased that Amtrak has been able to restore more daily trains and is proud to invest in rail service.”

Currently, Amtrak is operating 18 weekday trains (nine in each direction) between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Similarly, 14 weekday trains (seven in each direction) are currently offered between New York and Philadelphia and 10 weekend trains (five in each direction). Once the new service begins, 24 weekday trains (12 in each direction) will be offered each day between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, with 14 available on Saturdays (seven in each direction) and 16 on Sundays (eight in each direction). Between New York and Philadelphia, 20 weekday trains (10 in each direction) will be offered with 12 on Saturdays (six in each direction) and 11 on Sundays (five trains operating from Philadelphia to New York and six trains from New York to Philadelphia.)

Being able to easily travel from and to city centres, Amtrak offers free Wi-Fi for passengers, the freedom to use phones and electronic devices at all times, the ability to travel with small pets on many trains, large spacious seats with ample leg room, no middle seat, and one of the most generous baggage policies in the travel industry, applicable for two personal items and two carry-on bags.