HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak marked the completion of major track reconstruction and restoration of full service on its Keystone Line on Monday, capping an eight-month project to replace more than 43 miles of track between Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pa. The work also included installation of more than 113,000 concrete ties.
The $122 million project required significant bus substitutions for the route’s Keystone Service beginning in April [see “Amtrak track project between Harrisburg and Lancaster …,” Trains News Wire, March 20, 2024]; those substitutions ended ahead of schedule on Nov. 7 [see “Amtrak to end bus substitutions …,” News Wire, Oct. 10, 2024]. But that helped create work windows that Amtrak says allowed it to expedite a project that was originally projected to take two years, while working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and freight operator Norfolk Southern to maintain operation of the cross-state Pennsylvanian and continue serving the route’s freight shippers.
“Amtrak’s in-house construction crews achieved significant efficiency improvements compared with previous years, increasing production by 87% and reducing injuries by more than 80% from 2023,” said Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president of capital delivery. “I am grateful to PennDOT, Norfolk Southern, and our shared customers for their support, cooperation, and patience as we invested in the future of passenger rail in Pennsylvania.” Mason and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll were among those taking part in a ceremony to commemorate the restoration of full service.
And travel time will be reduced by how much?
Looks like the same OLD catenary, though.