TheKeystone Serviceis a 195 mile (314 km)regionalpassenger train service fromAmtrak,that operates between theHarrisburg Transportation CenterinHarrisburg, Pennsylvania,and30th Street StationinPhiladelphia,running along thePhiladelphia to Harrisburg Main Line(known as theKeystone Corridor). Most trains then continue along theNortheast Corridor(NEC) toPenn StationinNew York City.
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Service type | Inter-city rail,higher-speed rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | NortheasternUnited States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Penn Centralcorridor trains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | October 29, 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Amtrakin partnership withPennDOT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual ridership | 1,115,779 (FY23)38.4%[a][1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Philadelphia,Pennsylvania orNew York City,New York Harrisburg,Pennsylvania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 195 miles (314 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 3 hours, 16-42 minutes (New York–Harrisburg)[2] 1 hour, 40-56 minutes (Philadelphia–Harrisburg)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | 13 daily round trips | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Train number(s) | 600–601, 605, 607, 609–612, 615, 618–620, 622, 637, 639–656, 658, 660–667, 669–672, 674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class(es) | Coach Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | Amfleetcoaches Metrolinercab car Siemens ACS-64locomotives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrification | Overhead line,12 kV 25 Hz AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed |
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Trips between Harrisburg and New York take approximately3+1⁄2hours, including1+3⁄4hours between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. There are also several express services that can cut the journey times of both by approximately 15 minutes.[3]
The line is consideredhigher-speed railwith trains operating at up to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h) over parts of the Northeast Corridor and up to 110 mph (180 km/h) over parts of the Keystone Corridor.[citation needed]
As of 2013[update]it is Amtrak's fifth-busiest route nationally, and the third-busiest among services in the greater Northeast Corridor;[5]infiscal year2016, the service carried 1.47 million passengers, an increase of 7.9% over FY2015. Total revenue in FY2016 was $41,123,787, an increase of 7.5% over FY2015.[6]The route is primarily funded by thePennsylvania Department of Transportation(PennDOT).[3]
History
editTakeover from Penn Central
editThe Keystone Service is the successor to numerous services running along thePhiladelphia to Harrisburg Main Linedating back to 1857, when thePennsylvania Railroad(PRR) bought thePhiladelphia and Columbia Railroad,enabling service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg.[citation needed]
By the time the PRR merged withPenn Centralin 1968, it operated three types of service on the Main Line: commuter service between the suburb ofPaoliandSuburban Stationvia30th Street Station,regional service (trains numbered in the 600s) betweenHarrisburgand Suburban Station via 30th Street Station, and express intercity service like theBroadway LimitedandDuquesne,which skipped 30th Street Station entirely and usedNorth Philadelphia stationas their only Philadelphia stop.[7]
When theMetrolinerhigh-speed program had begun two years earlier, the state had attempted to capitalize on the opportunity to purchase upgraded rolling stock for the 600-series trains. On August 30, 1966, GovernorWilliam Scrantonof Pennsylvania announced plans to purchase 11 Metroliners capable of 80 mph (130 km/h) service to replace theSilverlinersthen used. The cars were ordered through Philadelphia commuter agencySEPTA,as the state was not permitted to contract directly with the PRR.[8]The state, SEPTA, and PRR reached an agreement on November 3; the state and SEPTA would each pay $2 million, funded mostly by mass transit grants from the newly formedDepartment of Housing and Urban Development(HUD), and the PRR would receive a free 15-year lease of the cars. The PRR soon withdrew after complaints from competing Red Arrow Lines and Capitol Trailways, and the HUD grants were later found to be inapplicable to intercity service.[8]
In June 1968, an agreement was reached where the state Transportation Assistance Authority would pay $2 million and Penn Central would pay $2.5 million for the 11 Metroliners for Harrisburg service. On July 14, a 4-car train was tested on the line, with several demonstration runs for officials on August 21.[9]On February 25, 1970, the cars intended for Harrisburg service completed their performance testing. Penn Central refused to accept the cars, citing numerous technical issues with the cars and their general unsuitability for the service. They had slower acceleration than the Silverliners already in service, tended to overheat when making numerous closely spaced stops, and had difficulty climbing the grade out of Suburban Station. Additionally, the corridor lacked high-level platforms to effectively use the cars, and 15 substations would require expensive modifications.[10]The 11 cars were unused for some time before Penn Central ultimately decided to lease the cars for use on thecore New York–Washington service.They were moved back to the Budd plant for modifications in April. In July 1970, the state authorized $100,000 to upgrade existing Silverliners for the Harrisburg service instead.[10]
When Amtrak was created to take over intercity passenger rail service in 1971, there was substantial debate about whether some trains constituted intercity services (to be either taken over by Amtrak or discontinued, relieving private companies like Penn Central of the financial burden) or commuter services (to be retained by the private companies unless discontinuance was approved by theICC). Penn Central alleged that several of its regional services – the 600-series trains, connecting Lancaster–Yorkbuses,Clockers,andNew York–Chatham service– were intercity services that could be discontinued since they were not included in Amtrak's initial system.[citation needed]
On March 31, 1971, Penn Central filed with ICC to discontinue the 600-series trains at the conclusion of their contract withSEPTAon June 30.[11]The state filed suit against Penn Central on April 7 to stop the discontinuance. On April 23, Penn Central filed in District Court to discontinue the regional services.[11]Five days later, the state and theUTUfiled an opposing suit, calling the trains a commuter service. On April 30, JudgeJohn P. Fullamordered Penn Central to continue operating the trains and ultimately referred the case to the ICC.[11]
When Amtrak took over intercity service on May 1, 1971, the 600-series trains continued to be operated by Penn Central, though they were listed in Amtrak schedules.[12]The city of Philadelphia and the state both preferred to have Penn Central rather than Amtrak operate the service, as Amtrak was exempt from state control. On June 21, the ICC ruled that the service was not intercity rail, as sought by the state and not by Penn Central.[11]On August 3, Fullam ordered Penn Central to continue operating the regional services.[11]
On October 29, 1972, after further negotiations with Penn Central, Amtrak took over operation of the 600-series trains asSilverliner Service,named for theSilverlinercars used to run the trains.[13][14]Amtrak assumed formal responsibility for theSilverliner ServiceandClockersaround April 1974.[15]Penn Central (and laterConrailand finallySEPTA Regional Rail) continued to operate Paoli–Philadelphia commuter service. Amtrak took over ticketing for theSilverliner ServiceandClockersfrom Penn Central on July 1, 1975.[16]On October 26, 1975, SEPTA funded an increase from 9 to 11 daily round trips.[16]Amtrak began including a listing of connecting trains to/from New York City in the November 1975 timetable.[17]
Declining service
editIn the late 1970s,NJDOT's newArrow IIIrailcars arrived several years ahead of the completion of electrification projects to allow their use in New Jersey commuter service. By this time, Amtrak was desperate for electric propulsion, as the agingGG1 locomotiveswere nearing the end of their usefulness, replacementE60 locomotiveswere proving unreliable, and newEMD AEM-7locomotives were only just beginning to arrive. In April 1978, Amtrak leased 70 of NJDOT's Arrow II cars for use on theClockers,Keystone Service,and the newChesapeake.[18]By January 1979, the Arrows were rotated between theClockersandSilverliner Service.The Arrows had bathrooms and water fountains, making them more suitable for regional service than the Silverliners.[19]In late 1980, under pressure from NJDOT, Amtrak returned all but 32 of the Arrows, which quickly created the need to find other rolling stock for theSilverliner Service.Despite being pronounced unsuitable for Harrisburg service a decade before, theMetrolinerswere the only easily available rolling stock, as they were being slowly retired from the eponymous service. A test run with Metroliners was made on January 20, 1981, and Metroliners were used in revenue service for two weeks in February.[20]Metroliners were used on the New York – HarrisburgValley Forgefor a week in August, and a maintenance facility at Harrisburg opened on October 13, 1981.[20]
As the new AEM-7 locomotives continued to arrive, Amtrak assigned them to haul crackMetrolinertrains withAmfleetconsists, and reassigned the less-reliable Metroliners for the secondary Philadelphia–Harrisburg service, dubbing them Capitoliners.[21]On October 25, 1981, the service was rebranded asKeystone Service.[22][20]All service was then operated by the Metroliners, which lacked the quick acceleration of the Silverliners or Arrows, making them unsuitable for the service.[20]After a single Metroliner set was withdrawn fromClockerservice in March 1982, theKeystone Servicewas the only remaining use of the Metroliners.[20]On April 24, 1983, a pair of weekday trains – the 9:54am arrival and 3:55pm departure from Suburban Station – were renamedKeystone Executive.Intended to attract riders from the western end of the corridor, the trains made intermediate stops only at Lancaster, Downingtown, and 30th Street, with a 99-minute schedule.[23]
The first westbound train of the morning made numerous local stops for commuters to Harrisburg, including some at stations not served by any other Amtrak train. This was first shown in the April 29, 1973, schedule.[24]These one-off stops were gradually dropped: Merion in 1979;52nd Streetand Berwyn in 1980; Radnor and Narberth in 1982; and Bryn Mawr, Overbrook, and Wayne in 1987.[citation needed]Amtrak and SEPTA opened a station inExtonon November 2, 1981, to serve fast-growing suburban areas.[20]
TheSilverliner Servicecarried over one million passengers in 1980, but ridership was in steep decline due to a variety of factors.[7]On October 30, 1983, Amtrak reduced the service from 11 to 9 weekday round trips, prompting an 8% drop in ridership.[20][25]A decrease to 6 weekday round trips on January 12, 1986, and 5 round trips on April 27, cut ridership by an additional 45%.[20][25]The cuts included the termination of theKeystone Executive.[26]Despite the loss of service, fares doubled from 1980 to 1987.[7]The single SEPTA round trip past Paoli toDowningtownwas cut in 1983, but two round trips were restored in March 1985, with additional midday and weekend service added in 1988. Service was further extended toParkesburgin 1990, with lower fares than Amtrak.[7]By 1990, SEPTA carried 595,000 passengers west of Paoli, twice that of Amtrak's ridership on the entireKeystone Service.[25]
The Metroliner cars, worn out from nearly two decades of heavy use, began to fail frequently. In April 1985, Amtrak began studying the possibility of removing electrification west of Paoli.[20]On-time performance decreased from around 85% in 1985 to below 60% in early 1988.[7]On January 25, 1988, Amtrak began towing the Metroliner cars with AEM-7 locomotives rather than running them under their own power, although the cars had their pantographs up to power lighting and heating systems.[20]A wreck of theNight Owlfour days later took two AEM-7 locomotives out of commission, exacerbating a shortage of electric power available to Amtrak.[27]On February 1, Amtrak converted allKeystone Servicetrains to diesel power and terminated them on the lower level of 30th Street Station, as diesel-powered trains were not allowed in the tunnels to Suburban Station.[20]The change was listed as "temporary" on timetables starting on May 15, 1988, and lasting into 1990.[28][29]After dieselization and the lengthening of schedules, on-time performance began to consistently exceed 90%.[7]
Through service
editValley Forge 1975 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At its inception on May 1, 1971, Amtrak ran two through services on the line: the combined New York–ChicagoBroadway Limitedand New York–St. LouisSpirit of St. Louis(soon renamedNational Limited), and the Pittsburgh–New YorkDuquesne(soon renamedKeystone). The former train stopped only at Lancaster and Paoli between Harrisburg and North Philadelphia; it was intended for long-distance travelers between the East Coast and the Midwest rather than local passengers. TheDuquesne/Keystonehad one additional stop at Coatesville and was intended for medium-distance intercity travel.[12]
Amtrak discontinued theKeystoneon April 30, 1972, leaving the 600-series trains as the only local service along their route. TheBroadway LimitedandNational Limitedwere split; they added local stops west of Harrisburg, but passengers from between Harrisburg and Philadelphia had to change trains at Harrisburg, Lancaster, Paoli, or Philadelphia to reach stops west of Harrisburg or north of Philadelphia.[30]: 64 On October 28, 1973, Amtrak changed the weekday-onlyValley Forgefrom a Philadelphia–New Haven local train to a Harrisburg–New York City train. It only made the same intermediate stops as theKeystone,including no direct service to 30th Street Station.[31]However, its introduction meant that through passengers no longer had to change at Philadelphia or rely on theBroadway Limited,whose on-time performance had plunged to just 6.8% in 1973.[30]: 20
Additional local stops in Pennsylvania were later added. On May 19, 1974, Amtrak added weekend service on theValley Forge:a Saturday train from Harrisburg to Boston, and a Sunday train from Boston to Harrisburg.[15]The weekend service ended on October 26, 1975.[16]On October 28, 1979, Amtrak and SEPTA began the "Ardmore Connection": theValley Forgebegan stopping atArdmore,where a close connection could be made with a SEPTA Paoli–Philadelphia local train.[19]On December 17, 1979, the westboundValley Forgebegan stopping at 30th Street rather than bypassing it using the Pittsburgh Subway; however, it retained the Ardmore stop.[19][32]
The Washington sections of theBroadway LimitedandNational Limitedoriginally split at Harrisburg and reached the Northeast Corridor via thePort Road Branch.The Washington section of theBroadway Limitedwas rerouted through Philadelphia on October 26, 1975; theNational Limitedfollowed suit on October 29, 1978.[30]: 41, 62 TheNational Limitedwas discontinued entirely on October 1, 1979; the state began funding the Pittsburgh–PhiladelphiaPennsylvanianas a replacement on April 27, 1980.[30]: 75
At the same time, a pair ofClockers,the westboundKeystoneand eastboundBig Apple,were extended to Harrisburg on weekends.[20]They ran within an hour of theValley Forge'sweekday schedule; however, they ran to 30th Street and Suburban stations rather than only serving North Philadelphia.[33]TheKeystonewas renamedSusquehannaon October 25, 1981.[22]TheBig AppleandSusquehannadropped the Suburban Station stop a year later, but continued to serve 30th Street.[34]On October 30, 1983, thePennsylvanianwas extended to New York City, eliminating the transfer at Philadelphia (although it continued to stop at 30th Street).[35]On January 12, 1986, the eastboundValley Forgebegan serving 30th Street (as the westbound had for six years); this allowed it to effectively replace a canceledKeystone Servicetrain (#600, the first morning eastbound) to serve commuters.[20][26]
Amtrak began operating the Atlantic City–PhiladelphiaAtlantic City Expressin 1989, and later extended it along several busy corridors in hopes of increasing ridership. On April 4, 1991, one dailyKeystone Serviceround trip was extended toAtlantic Cityunder theAtlantic City Expressbrand. Only a weekend round trip continued to be through-routed. TheAtlantic City Expresswas discontinued on April 2, 1995;New Jersey TransitAtlantic City Linetrains continue to serve 30th Street Station.[36]
Modern improvements
editIn November 1996, as part of a general cutback of Regional Rail service, SEPTA cut service back to Downingtown, leaving Parkesburg andCoatesvilleas Amtrak-only stations.[37]Amtrak added the stations to several existing round trips as a result.[38]Amtrak discontinued its stops atWhitfordandMalvern(both served only by a single round trip) on April 5, 1998, reducing the number of suburban stations shared by SEPTA andKeystone Servicetrains to four.[39]
Beginning in 2000, Amtrak andPennDOTspent $166 million to rehabilitate the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line. This included the restoration of fully electrified service, as well as track improvements for a top speed of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). When the project was completed and electric service began in October 2006, travel times between Harrisburg and Philadelphia were reduced from 120 minutes to 95 minutes, with further time savings for through trains by eliminating the need for an engine change at Philadelphia. Service was also increased from 11 to 14 daily round trips. By FY 2010, ridership was up 91% since FY 2000 and 58% since FY 2006.[40]
Later improvements aimed to develop a sealed corridor without publicat-grade crossings,which would allow future speed increases to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) west of Philadelphia.[41]The last two such at-grade crossings on the line, located just east ofMount Joy,were closed on September 24, 2014. They were replaced with a bridge connecting to a nearby street.[42]However, private crossings continued to be used on the line. One private crossing east ofMount Joywas closed soon after a train collided with a tractor using the crossing.[43]Today, only one private crossing remains on the line, west of Lancaster on a private roadway leading to a substation.
On March 18, 2020, Amtrak temporarily suspended allKeystone Servicetrains due to declining demand because of the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.[44][45]Service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg resumed on June 1, 2020, with all-reserved seating.[46]On July 6, 2020, Amtrak restored oneKeystone Servicetrain in each direction running the full route between New York City and Harrisburg.[47]Amtrak restored full service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg on September 8, 2020.[48]On January 4, 2021, Amtrak reduced service levels along theKeystone Servicedue to decreased ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the reduction in service, theKeystone Servicehad seven roundtrips on weekdays and six roundtrips on weekends between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, with three daily roundtrips running the full route between New York City and Harrisburg.[49]Most pre-pandemic service was restored on April 25, 2022, with eleven weekday Philadelphia–Harrisburg round trips.[50]
From March to November 2021, middayKeystone Servicetrains were replaced with buses west of Lancaster to allow for track work.[51][52]
Proposed expansion
editProposals for aninfill stationinParadise Townshiphave been under considerations since the 1990s. The stop would be about halfway between Lancaster and Parkesburg, serving the localPlain communityand allowing tourists to transfer to theStrasburg Rail Road.A July 2004 plan was rejected by theFederal Railroad Administrationover concerns that the curved track would precludeADA-compliantboarding platforms.[53]
Operation
editEquipment
editMostKeystone Servicetrains consist of five cars – fourAmfleetI coaches plus aMetrolinercab car– paired with aSiemens ACS-64electric locomotive. The service has a single class of service, coach class, configured with 2x2 seating.[54] Trains are unreserved between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and reserved coaches between Philadelphia and New York.[55]Unlike most Amtrak routes, no food service is available onKeystone Servicetrains.
In the late 2020s and early 2030s, all equipment will be replaced with Amtrak Airo trainsets, the railroad's branding of its combination ofSiemens Venturepassenger cars and aSiemens Chargerdiesel-electric locomotive.[56]The trainsets for theKeystone Servicewill have six passenger cars, which will include a food service area and a mix of 2x2 coach class and 2x1 business class seating.[57]The car closest to the locomotive will be a specialized "Auxiliary Power Vehicle" which will include a pantograph to collect power from overhead lines and traction motors in the car and the locomotive.[58]
Before the signal, track, andcatenaryupgrades that were completed in October 2006,Keystone Servicetrains usedGE Genesisdiesel locomotives between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
Route
editTheKeystone Serviceoperates entirely over Amtrak-owned trackage:
- AmtrakPhiladelphia to Harrisburg Main Line,Harrisburg–Philadelphia
- AmtrakNortheast Corridor,Philadelphia–New York
Trains operate at speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h) over the Northeast Corridor and up to 110 mph (177 km/h) over the Main Line.
Ridership
editRidership data was taken from Amtrak fiscal year reports.[b]
Service
editOn weekdays there are thirteenKeystonetrains and onePennsylvaniantrain in each direction. All trains run between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, with nineKeystonetrains plus thePennsylvaniancontinuing on to New York. There are eight round-trip trains on both Saturdays and Sundays. All but one, including thePennsylvanian,make the full trip between Harrisburg and New York. On the majority of the trains, the journey between Harrisburg and New York takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, including 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. There are also several express trains which cut both journey times by approximately 15 minutes each.[3]
Station stops
editState | Miles (km) | Town/City | Station | Connections |
---|---|---|---|---|
NY | 0 | New York City | Penn Station | Amtrak(long-distance):Cardinal,Crescent,Lake Shore Limited,Palmetto,Silver Meteor Amtrak (intercity):Acela,Adirondack,Berkshire Flyer,Carolinian,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Maple Leaf,Northeast Regional,Pennsylvanian,Vermonter Long Island Rail Road:■City Terminal Zone,■Port Washington Branch NJ Transit:■North Jersey Coast Line,■Northeast Corridor Line,■Gladstone Branch,■Montclair-Boonton Line,■Morristown Line NYC Subway: PATH:HOB-33JSQ-33JSQ-33 (via HOB) Local bus:MTA Bus Intercity bus:FlixBus |
NJ | 10 (16) | Newark | Newark Penn Station | Amtrak:Acela,Cardinal,Carolinian,Crescent,Northeast Regional,Palmetto,Pennsylvanian,Silver Meteor,Vermonter Newark Light Rail NJ Transit:■North Jersey Coast Line,■Northeast Corridor Line,■Raritan Valley Line PATH:NWK-WTC Local bus:NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus:Greyhound,Coach USA,Fullington Trailways |
13 (21) | Newark Airport | AirTrain NewarktoNewark Liberty International Airport Amtrak:Northeast Regional NJ Transit:■North Jersey Coast Line,■Northeast Corridor Line | ||
25 (40) | Iselin | Metropark | Amtrak:Acela,Northeast Regional,Palmetto,Vermonter NJ Transit:■Northeast Corridor Line Local bus: NJ Transit Bus | |
33 (53) | New Brunswick | New Brunswick | Amtrak:Northeast Regional NJ Transit:■Northeast Corridor Line Local bus: NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus:Suburban Transit | |
49 (79) | West Windsor | Princeton Junction | Amtrak:Northeast Regional,Vermonter NJ Transit:■Northeast Corridor Line,■Princeton Branch Local bus: NJ Transit Bus | |
58 (93) | Trenton | Trenton | Amtrak:Cardinal,Carolinian,Crescent,Northeast Regional,Palmetto,Pennsylvanian,Silver Meteor,Vermonter NJ Transit:■Northeast Corridor Line,■River Line SEPTA Regional Rail:■Trenton Line Local bus:SEPTA Suburban Bus,NJ Transit Bus | |
PA | 74 (119) | Cornwells Heights | Cornwells Heights | Amtrak:Northeast Regional SEPTA Regional Rail:■Trenton Line Local bus:SEPTA City Bus,SEPTA Suburban Bus |
86 (138) | Philadelphia | North Philadelphia | Amtrak:Northeast Regional SEPTA Regional Rail:■Trenton Line,■Chestnut Hill West Line SEPTA Metro:Broad Street Line Local bus: SEPTA City Bus | |
91 (146) | 30th Street Station | Amtrak:Acela,Cardinal,Carolinian,Crescent,Northeast Regional,Palmetto,Pennsylvanian,Silver Meteor,Vermonter SEPTA Regional Rail:all lines NJ Transit:■Atlantic City Line SEPTA Metro:Market–Frankford Line,Subway–Surface Trolleys Local bus: SEPTA City Bus, SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus:Martz Trailways,Peter Pan | ||
95 (153) | Overbrook | Bypassed in 1988 | ||
97 (156) | Narberth | Narberth | Bypassed in 1982 | |
99 (159) | Ardmore | Ardmore | SEPTA Regional Rail:■Paoli/Thorndale Line Local bus: SEPTA City Bus, SEPTA Suburban Bus | |
100 (160) | Bryn Mawr | Bryn Mawr | Bypassed in 1988 | |
113 (182) | Radnor | Radnor | Bypassed in 1982 | |
115 (185) | Wayne | Wayne | Bypassed in 1988 | |
110 (180) | Paoli | Paoli | Amtrak:Pennsylvanian SEPTA Regional Rail:■Paoli/Thorndale Line Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus | |
111 (179) | Malvern | Malvern | Bypassed in 1998 | |
112 (180) | Exton | Exton | Amtrak:Pennsylvanian SEPTA Regional Rail:■Paoli/Thorndale Line Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus,West Chester Universityshuttle | |
113 (182) | Whitford | Whitford | Bypassed in 1998 | |
123 (198) | Downingtown | Downingtown | SEPTA Regional Rail:■Paoli/Thorndale Line Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus | |
129 (208) | Coatesville | Coatesville | Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus,ChescoBus | |
133 (214) | Parkesburg | Parkesburg | Local bus: ChescoBus | |
159 (256) | Lancaster | Lancaster | Amtrak:Pennsylvanian Local bus:Red Rose Transit Authority | |
171 (275) | Mount Joy | Mount Joy | Local bus: Red Rose Transit Authority | |
177 (285) | Elizabethtown | Elizabethtown | Amtrak:Pennsylvanian Local bus: Red Rose Transit Authority | |
185 (298) | Middletown | Middletown | Local bus:Capital Area Transit | |
195 (314) | Harrisburg | Harrisburg Transportation Center | Amtrak:Pennsylvanian Local bus: Capital Area Transit,Lebanon Transit,rabbittransit Intercity bus:Greyhound,Fullington Trailways |
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Notes
editExternal links
editMedia related toKeystone Serviceat Wikimedia Commons