Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation have announced that a second daily run of the Pennsylvanian between New York and Pittsburgh will begin on Nov. 18. 

The second train will provide an afternoon departure from both ends of the route. Currently, the eastbound Pennsylvanian departs Pittsburgh at 7:30 a.m., while the westbound train departs New York City at 10:52 a.m. The new eastbound train will depart at 1:00 p.m., and the new westbound train at 12:25 p.m.

With the addition of the second service, the existing train’s schedule will also change. The eastbound morning run from Pittsburgh will move to 7:10 a.m., and the westbound run from New York City will move to 5:50 a.m.

The expanded service is part of an $80 million investment in rail infrastructure along the Norfolk Southern-owned Pittsburgh Line by the Pennsylvania state government. Additionally, PennDOT received more than $140 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund improvements along the route.  

The Pennsylvanian travels 444 miles between Pittsburgh and New York City, utilizing Norfolk Southern’s Pittsburgh Line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and Amtrak-owned rails between Harrisburg and New York City. Tickets for the second service are now available.

— Nick Stewart