(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on December 10.)
It’s been less than two weeks since Amtrak appointed Joseph Boardman interim president and chief executive officer, but one New York senator already is urging him to add service in the region.
Last week, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Boardman requesting that he consider expanding service from Scranton, Pa., to Binghamton, N.Y.
“The connection out of Binghamton through Scranton will provide a vital link for residents of the southern tier to New York City, and at the same time, profoundly impact economic development throughout this region,” Schumer wrote.
The senator long has advocated the New Jersey-Pennsylvania Lackawanna Cutoff Rail Restoration, a joint effort between Pennsylvania and New Jersey aimed at reestablishing commuter-rail service between Scranton and Hoboken, N.J. The Binghamton-Scranton line would connect with the Lackawanna Cutoff, linking New Jersey Transit lines serving New York City.