Memorandum of Understanding sets Amtrak as operator, addresses steps in FRA’s Corridor ID program
The proposed Reading-Philadelphia passenger route, as outlined in a 2020 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study. PennDOT
READING, Pa. — The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, the agency working to bring Amtrak service to Reading, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Amtrak to advance the project.
The recently announced agreement affirms the authority’s designation of Amtrak as operator for the future service; formalizes an Amtrak commitment to complete ridership, revenue, and cost estimates for the service; and indicates Amtrak’s willingness to work with the authority on tasks later in the development process.
“This MOU is a major milestone in the Authority’s progress toward reintroduction of intercity passenger rail service in our region,” SRPRA Chair Marian Moskowitz said in a press release. “We are grateful to Amtrak for their support, to all our stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and to our elected officials at all levels on both sides of the aisle who continue to help us advance this effort.”
The Reading-Philadelphia-New York route was among those selected in the first stage of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program. Amtrak’s completion of the ridership, revenue, and cost estimates will be part of Step 2 of that program; the authority is working on other Step 2 tasks, including a preliminary analysis of route options and development of a project management plan.
“Amtrak is proud to partner with the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority to advance the potential restoration of passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia,” said Nicole Bucich, Amtrak vice president of planning and state partnerships. “We look forward to the opportunity to reconnect communities like Reading to the Northeast Corridor and beyond, to support their economic and community development.”
More on the authority and the efforts to restore service to Reading is available at its website.
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
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