SCRANTON, LACKWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Transportation leaders on Thursday detailed plans to revive passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City, a connection that has been dormant for more than five decades.
During a virtual public meeting held Feb. 19, 2026, representatives from PennDOT and federal agencies shared updates on the proposed 140-mile corridor, which would reestablish direct rail service for the first time since January 5, 1970. The project has been identified as a national “front-runner” and is among five corridors across the country selected to advance into the service development planning phase.
The proposal calls for three daily round-trips between Scranton and Manhattan, with an estimated travel time of about three hours — comparable to driving or taking a bus. Officials said maintaining that travel time will influence how many station stops are ultimately included.
Preliminary plans show stops in East Stroudsburg and Mt. Pocono in Pennsylvania, along with Blairstown, Dover, Morristown, Montclair and Newark in New Jersey.
The service would rely on dual-mode locomotives capable of operating on both diesel fuel and electric power. Trains would run on diesel from Scranton to Dover, where they would transition to electric power for the remainder of the trip into Penn Station in Manhattan.
Most of the corridor uses existing, publicly owned rail right-of-way, a factor officials say streamlines the process by eliminating the need for negotiations with private freight rail companies. While infrastructure improvements will be necessary — including adding double track in certain sections to allow trains traveling in opposite directions to pass safely — existing structures such as viaducts are reportedly in good condition. A new station site is expected in Scranton, as the city’s historic station will not be used.
Supporters emphasized the project’s potential economic and demographic impact. Estimates presented during the meeting project nearly 473,500 riders annually and roughly $84 million in yearly economic activity tied to the service. Officials also noted that one in 16 Americans lives in the broader region served by the route, with the population expected to grow by 9 percent by 2050. Employment in New York and New Jersey alone is forecast to increase by 25 percent in the coming years.
Backed heavily by federal funding, the initiative aims to strengthen ties between Northeast Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. The project remains in the service development plan stage, with additional studies and public meetings planned before a final proposal is submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration for consideration.