upghr5187 t1_j7lbh85 wrote on February 7, 2023 at 5:03 PM

Reply to comment by vortical42 in Why does Amtrack service not extend to State College? by vortical42

It is the issue. The only tracks that reach state college is a spur line that comes from the north through Bellefonte. There’s no tracks connecting State College to Lewistown where the existing Amtrak line is. They would need to reroute through Williamsport to connect State College and Harrisburg without laying new track.

Pink_Slyvie t1_j7mx2t4 wrote on February 7, 2023 at 11:17 PM

>They would need to reroute through Williamsport to connect State College and Harrisburg without laying new track.

Just saying, this would be amazing. The bus services in these areas suck. I went to college up there, and its so hard to get around without a car.

SendAstronomy t1_j7nvki6 wrote on February 8, 2023 at 3:34 AM

But it would suck majorly for people that want to get to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or anywhere south.

Pink_Slyvie t1_j7o1q7d wrote on February 8, 2023 at 4:25 AM

It looks like they could do a line going from Harrisburg to Buffalo, that would be amazing. Looks like it's Norfolk Southern.

I'm of the opinion the gov't needs to take over the entire nation's rail system and really push electric rail, but that aint going to happen.

wheresaldopa t1_j7n58nz wrote on February 8, 2023 at 12:16 AM

Either that, or send the trains to Tyrone and connect to Harrisburg that way. Probably easier. That said, the spur line is ill-maintained jointed rail speed limited to 10-15 mph, as frequently tends to be the case with short line railroads all across the country. Amtrak service would demand significant upgrades, and the spur line doesn't even get close to downtown anyway.

I do think there would be some demand for train service to State College, if the number of Penn State students I've seen getting off the Amtrak in Tyrone and carpooling back to campus is anything to go by.

SendAstronomy t1_j7nw5yj wrote on February 8, 2023 at 3:39 AM

Connecting either to Tyrone or Lewistown would be great. Though the Amtrak service is already pretty thin. It would be tough to get the money to do this.