Keystone Service

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Keystone Service
Keystone Service at Ardmore, PA (MP 9.22).jpg
A westbound Keystone Service train at Ardmore, PA
Overview
Service type higher-speed rail
Current operator(s) Amtrak
Ridership 4,018 daily
1,466,504 total (FY13)[1]
Route
Start Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New York City, New York
Stops 19
End Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Distance travelled 195 miles (314 km)
Average journey time 3 hours 50 mins (New-York-Harrisburg), 1 hour 45 min (Philadelphia-Harrisburg)
Service frequency 13 trains per direction daily
Train number(s) 600-601, 605, 607, 609-612, 615, 618-620,
622, 637, 639-656, 658, 660-672
On-board services
Class(es) Standard Class
Seating arrangements Unreserved Coach Seating (Philadelphia-Harrisburg), Reserved Coach Seating (New-York-Philadelphia)
Technical
Rolling stock ACS-64, 5 Amfleet Coaches (last
one is an ex-Metroliner cab car)
Electrification AC Overhead Catenary at 12 kV, 25 Hz
Operating speed Up to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h)

Amtrak's 195-mile (314 km) Keystone Service provides frequent higher speed passenger train service along the Amtrak-owned Keystone Corridor between the Harrisburg Transportation Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Some trains continue along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and terminate at Pennsylvania Station in New York.

It is Amtrak's fifth-busiest route, and the railroad's third-busiest in the NEC.[1] In fiscal year 2013, the service carried 1.47 million passengers, an increase of 3.2% over FY2012. Total revenue in FY2013 was $29,366,992, an increase of 7.5% over FY2012.[1]

Operation

The trains consist of unreserved coaches between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and reserved coaches between Philadelphia and New York. There is no business class or snack/food service. However, there is a quiet car on all trains, and free Wi-Fi service is offered.

On weekdays there are thirteen Keystone trains and one Pennsylvanian train in each direction. All trains run between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, though only nine of the Keystone trains plus the Pennsylvanian operate along the segment between Philadelphia and New York. There are eight round-trip trains on both Saturdays and Sundays. Seven of the Saturday and Sunday trains, including the Pennsylvanian, make the full trip between Harrisburg and New York. On the majority of the trains, the journey between Harrisburg and New York takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, including 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. There are also several express trains which cut both journey times by approximately 15 minutes.

Improvement projects

Grade crossing elimination

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation undertook a plan to improve the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line with a goal to develop a sealed corridor to eliminate public at-grade crossings such that the trains can operate at maximum speeds of 125 miles per hour (201 km/h).[2] The last two such at-grade crossings on the line, located just east of Mount Joy, were closed on September 24, 2014. They were replaced with a bridge connecting to a nearby street.[3]

Rolling stock

As a result of signal, track, and catenary upgrades that were completed in October 2006, Amtrak now uses Amtrak Cities Sprinters (ACS-64 model locomotives) in push-pull configuration with rebuilt Metroliner cab cars for their Keystone service. Previously, a complicated engine switch was needed at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station that required about twenty minutes to perform. The trains can reach a top speed of 110 mph (180 km/h) along the Keystone Corridor, a significant improvement in speed from the previous service. The improvements in infrastructure and service are a result of a $145 million investment and partnership between Amtrak, the Federal Transit Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to bring higher-speed rail to southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Amtrak Cities Sprinter will continue replace the existing AEM-7 locomotives as deliveries continue in 2016.[4] The new locomotives can operate up to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) on the Northeast Corridor. 125 mph operations are now allowed on the line as the at-grade separations are eliminated.[5] The Keystone Service will continue operate in push-pull service with ex-Metroliner cab cars.

Route

Amtrak Keystone Service (interactive map)

The Keystone Service operates over Amtrak trackage:

References

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External links

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