State to study expanding passenger train service to Altoona

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After more than a decade of rejecting additional rail passenger service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, the state is going to study a smaller chunk — Pittsburgh to Altoona.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will review “every possible angle” to see how much it would cost to upgrade tracks and stations, how many people might ride and whether Norfolk Southern has room to accommodate more passenger trains between Pittsburgh and Altoona. Right now, Amtrak operates one train a day each way between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

Joe Hurd, president and CEO of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, said additional service from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh is something his group “has been chewing on for some time” because one train a day “is hardly sufficient to meet the transportation needs of this area.”

“[Altoona to Pittsburgh] will be a good start,” Mr. Hurd said. “We’re pleased to see the governor is taking a look at it. We’re kind of confident there is a considerable amount of interest in more service.”

Altoona Mayor Matthew Pacifico agreed.

“If we can get one additional train coming through each day, it would do a lot to improve transportation in this area,” he said. “It’s something we would like to see an increase in.”