Passenger Trains > PennDOT/Amtrak/NS "2nd Pennsylvanian" Progress Report/Update ? ?

Exactly two years have passed since Norfolk Southern successfully extorted
$200 Million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically, failed,
irresponsible Spendocrat ex-Gov Tom Wolf, for the purported purpose of
"track and facility upgrades" to accomodate two more trains a day between
Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, i.e., a second Pennsylvania ".....within a few years."

So, anybody have any info? JOEMVCNJ - any news? Also, there is or was 
a T.O. member with the "Western PA Rail Association," if that is the correct name. 
Sir, any updates or progress to report? Or is the new train still ".....within a few years."

Perhaps Pennsylvanians might like to know what they are getting or not getting
for their extortion-funded "second Pennsylvanian."  Especially RailCity.
 

I am not a good news source on its launch timetable, but methinks 2026. 

Then Amtrak will say it has no crews for a second daily….

Posted from iPhone

Crews? They gotta find operating equipment first!

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Crews? They gotta find operating equipment first!
If they bothered to repair and upgrade the equipment that they own, they will have enough to do this, according to my sources of folks who are in the know.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Because of not having equipment Amtrak will find ways to delay this start-up past 2026 even after the funds are spent to upgrade tracks for their expansion

Posted from iPhone

Since this is really an extension of a Harrisburg train, does the equipment cycling allow for reduction of one Keystone train set, therefore only one additional train set needed ? 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/24 11:04 by joemvcnj.

The second Pennsylvanian is scheduled to begin operation in late 2026. Updates from PennDOT about the progress of Norfolk Southern's infrastructure improvements for the second train are found on Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail's (WPPR) website (links posted below).

https://www.wpprrail.org/resources/advancing-pa-rail-keystone-west/

https://www.wpprrail.org/resources/advancing-pa-rail-keystone-west/status/

 

MS5205 - Thank You for the reply and links. Late 2026? OK!

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Crews? They gotta find operating equipment
> first!
> If they bothered to repair and upgrade the
> equipment that they own, they will have enough to
> do this, according to my sources of folks who are
> in the know.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

Amtrak has been upgrading it’s equipment since before the pandemic, the Superliner refresh is close to completion.

Please contact WPPR if you are interested in getting on their email list (link below), or you can also view/follow their Facebook page.

https://www.wpprrail.org/contact/

 

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ClubCar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Crews? They gotta find operating equipment
> > first!
> > If they bothered to repair and upgrade the
> > equipment that they own, they will have enough
> to
> > do this, according to my sources of folks who
> are
> > in the know.
> > John in White Marsh, Maryland
>
> Amtrak has been upgrading it’s equipment since
> before the pandemic, the Superliner refresh is
> close to completion.

It's been a slow and selective upgrade process with "stop and go" along the way. The Viewliners were supposed to have been started before the pandemic as well as the Superliners and all ended up in delay - and still ongoing five years later. I wouldn't be touting that the Superliner refresh is finally close to completion. Just saying!

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Crews? They gotta find operating equipment first!

There is enough equipment running on the Pennsylvanian and the Keystones to add a couple of frequencies with only a minor tweak in total equipment (mostly additional cafe cars).  Amtrak has to be willing to start running the Pennsylvanian with Keystone equipment with a couple Amfleet II's added and dropped at Sunnyside to make it work (i.e., an inbound Pennsylvanian set cycles in to Sunnyside in the afternoon/evening, drops the cafe and Amfleet II's, and goes outbound as a Keystone to Harrisburg).  Reverse in the morning.  It also requires moving the engine change to Harrisburg again to not require more diesel engines.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since this is really an extension of a Harrisburg
> train, does the equipment cycling allow for
> reduction of one Keystone train set, therefore
> only one additional train set needed ? 

The Keystones have normally run 13 round trips with 8 trainsets, with 10 of them to/from NYC.

Where can find what is the scope of each phase of track work and the same foe signals

https://triblive.com/local/regional/2nd-amtrak-route-to-new-york-city-included-in-new-penndot-rail-plan/

Not   long  ago  they  were  looking  to  hire  4500 people  if  they  could  find  them. They  have  found  about  2500 plu is  ny understanding.   Fing  drug  free  and  skilled  Americans  not  easy  I am  toldd.

cutboy1958 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not   long  ago  they  were  looking  to
>  hire  4500 people  if  they  could  find
>  them. They  have  found  about  2500 plu is
>  ny understanding.   Fing  drug  free  and
>  skilled  Americans  not  easy  I am  toldd.

Old news, but partially true. They are beyond this now.