(The Associated Press circulated the following on August 22, 2010.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — State transportation officials say investments to improve the rail trip between Philadelphia and Harrisburg have brought record numbers of riders – and more improvements are on the way.
Ridership on Amtrak’s Keystone Service line has risen every year since 2006, and it’s up about 40 percent since that time. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says the 104-mile line saw a record 1.28 million trips, a 4 percent increase, during the last fiscal year.
Spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick says the increases are due to efforts to make the service faster and smoother. It now offers 90-minute express service at 110 mph between Harrisburg, Lancaster and Philadelphia 158 times a week as well as a direct link to New York City.