AMTRAK PREPARES TO UPGRADE HARRISBURG LINE

AMTRAK PREPARES TO UPGRADE HARRISBURG LINE: Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced schedule changes effective April 25, to accommodate the current phase of the comprehensive $145 million capital improvement project between Lancaster and Philadelphia. Once the project is complete, Keystone passengers will enjoy reduced trip times and improved ride comfort. In the fall of 2006, Amtrak will also be able to offer all-electric powered train service, with Harrisburg - Philadelphia trip times of between 90 minutes (express) and 105 minutes (standard). Today trip times range from 115 to 125 minutes. Currently, Amtrak provides diesel locomotive service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, which is less fuel-efficient and more costly to operate. The program benefits extend to all users - Amtrak, SEPTA and freight traffic. The project is jointly funded by Amtrak and PennDOT. Ridership on the Harrisburg-Philadelphia-New York Keystone Service has continued strongly in recent months. For the first six months of FY ’05 (beginning Oct. 1, 2004), ridership is up 13%, or 60,000 passengers, (514,000 v. 454,000 for the same period one year ago.) The spring and summer construction will result in the rebuilding of the two main tracks between Parkesburg and Lancaster. Schedules have been adjusted so trains need not pass each other along this segment of the tracks. Later in the work season, the construction will move to one of the four main tracks between Paoli and Philadelphia. Train schedules have been modified slightly to minimize or eliminate potential delay from these construction outages. To advise passengers of track work and the new schedule, Amtrak has posted notices in all stations along the route and on board Keystone trains. Note: Listed in the charts below are schedules for trains whose times have been altered from the current schedule with the April 25 timetable change. The track work will result in the following improvements:

* Installation of 80 track miles of new concrete ties
* Installation of more than 40 new track switches
* A new signal system between Lancaster and Harrisburg
* Upgrade of 16 existing bridges and culverts
* Upgrade of overhead electrical wires (catenary)
* Upgrade of electrical substations to support use of electric locomotives.

Freight ? What freight will be improved by this upgrade ?

Presumably the ISG steel mill in Coatesville, PA.

There is also a lumber yard in Paradise along the line off from the Strasburg Railroad who also takes in some freight every so often.

Saw Amtk MOW equipment in Gap today- very interesting to watch. One machine, ballast regulator perhaps, had buffers! Must be of UK or European design.

And I thought the reason electric engines aren't being used now is that there's a shortage of them and nothing to do with condition of the line? Anyone know anything more?

Anyone know when the other two tracks were removed in the Gap area?

* Upgrade of overhead electrical wires (catenary)
* Upgrade of electrical substations to support use of electric locomotives.

The reason that the electrics are currently restricted is because the catenary is de-energized west of Thorndale while they rebuild it.