As someone who used to go to school in Harrisburg and had class mates who lived in Philly and commuted, do not do this. Yes it is possible. No job is worth four hours on a train per day (two hrs each way). Maybe if its a once a week kinda thing, but every day? Don't torture yourself like that.

A quick search of the Amtrak app shows it's almost 2 hrs each way. Let's say 20 work days in a month...that's almost 80 hrs lost per month.

Amtrak has monthly rail passes, which should make the cost more reasonable than daily tickets, but I couldn't find prices for those.

EDIT: I just found prices - looks like a monthly commuter pass for the Keystone line (which gets you one round trip per day for an entire month) is about $490 per month.

I feel like the op is pretty set on their decision to do this. Everyone saying it’s a bad idea you’re disagreeing with. Just do it then lol best of luck

My brother used to take AmTrack from 30th Street Station to Elizabethtown each day in order to work in Hershey. He parked his car in E-town, drove to Hershey, then parked and took the train home. He got a lot of work done on the train, as well. I would imagine that a similar situation could work for Harrisburg. Good luck!

I did it by car for 3 years......it helps if you work a 4 day week. It is hard on family life. Usually took me 2 hours each way (quakertown to camp hill) Maybe carpool... If you can do by train in 2hours that is good...you can read etc on train...

Depends on where in "Harrisburg" you will be working. If you are working in downtown close to the station, ie, at the Capitol compound, doable but a pita. If you are working in "Harrisburg," which could be anything from Hershey to Carlisle, it might be undoable on some days and a major inconvenience every day you can make it work. Plus, the cost of the commute is likely to eat your earnings to nothingness.

OP, while this may sound doable, you need to think about the mental toll that a 12 hour work day will take on you

This is a horrible decision and a terrible idea. Find a different job closer, or find resudence closer to your job. You're gonna waste so much time and money just commuting to work every day

Just want to wish you the best and take advantage of decompressing on the train (nap, Internet, book, hobby, etc.)! Make good use of the time and the year will fly past. Also good time to see where in central PA you would want to move.

Unless your housing is free in Philly or you'd have to buy out a contract I'd say move ASAP. But starting that way for a bit could be ok.

The only question is how far from the Harrisburg Amtrak station to the office.

I commuted from Reading to Manhattan for 3 years. My office was a 30 minute walk from the PABT, so it wasn't too bad.

Nope. if you want to work in Harris burg, it would be best to move to that area. If it was only a 45 minute to an hour i'd just drive it. But 2hrs? If you work an 8 hr day you would be on the road 4 hrs a day. Doesn't sound like winning to me

My wife has commuted by car 1 1/2 hours each way for almost a decade. If you find the right job it can be worth it.

Like other people have said -- if the job is downtown or at the capital complex, then it's doable, but doing the commute every day would be a big pain in the butt.

If the job isn't walkable from the train station, may as well make other plans. The bus service around here is not robust whatsoever.

I did it for 18 months. Feasible? Yea, sure. But here are some caveats you should be aware of.

Trains do run late...even the keystone line.

Accidents on the line happen and delays can happen...which can leave you super effed in regards to time. The logistics of it all are terrible...even if say you live very close to 30th Street Station, there are many points of failure from commuting by train to HBG each day. Even still...unless you have a job at Harrisburg University or the Capital building...where walking isn't bad...you'll be huffing it to get to work.

Eventually my stint of that commute ended, but the commute can be brutal. Plus the monthly passes and only a small discount comparably, so you'll feel the drain of tickets quickly.

I work in Harrisburg and my boyfriend lives in Phoenixville ( I live in Lebanon). I go up the turnpike and it takes me 90 minutes. It takes 90 minutes to go back. That’s without traffic. I do it 1-2 times per week. I’m ok but it’s not every day. The days I do it are very long. I’m not even in Philly but a suburb 30 minutes out. I also work on the side which is close to the turnpike. Going into the city will add at least another 15-20 mins. 83 is a bitch on good days and if there’s an accident, it’s worse.

If you need to do this for the job, I’d look into staying in a hotel/motel close by during the week.

That commute will get old real quick and the gas and tolls will get expensive.

Having had a two hour a day train commute before, if you can take the train and have a project to work on the commute could be great. That was the time I was most productive in terms of professional goals that required personal time to achieve.

I know someone who lived almost to Lancaster and commuted into Philly on Amtrak. It was 1.5 hours each way. He was in school to be a veterinarian and had several kids. His wife’s parents had a house they allowed them to live in rent free. He said he was able to do all his schoolwork while commuting, so it worked out. If you are able to fall asleep easily, you can do some of your sleeping on the train to gain some free time.

If you are young and single. Do it. If you are older and need to see doctors and have a significant other that you value spending time with then don’t. Is it doable, yes. It will be expensive and wear you down. But, if you see that as temporary, then it’s doable.

Have you looked around for an Airbnb room. Maybe take the train on Monday. The money you would use commuting use to rent an Airbnb room for the week and take the train back to Philly on Fridays. Many Airbnb folks will Negotiate a price. Just a thought

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That would absolutely fuckin suck but honestly go for it because if it's truly unbearable you can quit the job

Good luck

Hell no it’s not worth it. A 4 hour daily commute atleast 4 to 5 days a week is insane. Im sure there are many other oppourtunities here in southeastern PA

No. It's not feasible

It is still 2hrs each way (including gas stop) but I took a different position then retired a few years ago before it killed me

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Why would you ever do that to yourself

I live 40 miles outside philly. It takes me almost 1-1/2 to get home when I leave work. I’m doing night shift now it’s 1-45 on the way in and 40 home.

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There is no job in Harrisburg worth doing this commute for that you couldn’t also do in Philly area

I have dealt with similar long distance commutes at various points in my life. I found the train rides to be relaxing. I wouldn't want to do it long term, and I wouldn't want to commit to a two hour each way drive twice a day... but the train? For a year? Sure. If the opportunity was right, I would do it again.

It is certainly doable, especially if you'll be in the Capitol complex or walking distance from the train station. I worked with a woman who commuted from PHL to HBG for years. She would occasionally stay over at a colleagues place if the weather was especially bad. Her work in HBG eventually led to a very good offer in PHL.

The train is reliable, and the ride lets you get work done before you get home.

Fwiw, in my neck of the woods, it isn't uncommon for people to commute from the Wyoming Valley, Lehigh Valley, or the Poconos to NYC on a daily basis. It's about 2 and a half hours on Martz or Trans-Bridge coach buses. Last time I checked, a commuter pass for Martz was $800.

I think, for less than a year, commuting to Harrisburg on Amtrak is manageable. Delays are less common and the Keystone is really comfortable compared to a coach bus. Being cheaper than Martz is a plus, too. Anything more than a year or two might be excessive.

I recommend doing what another commentor said and try the commute before you take the job.

If you have to be in your new job 9-5, 5x week, this is a LOT of long days. If you're able to flex any of your time and perhaps work on the train on a laptop or otherwise remotely, this becomes a lot more feasible because you can combine working and commuting.

Feasible? Yes… but you’d spend 4hrs in transportation each way… plus rail ticket costs. Plus, unless you are working at the capital complex you’d be looking at taxi fare…

TBH, housing is cheap in Harrisburg for a reason…

That’s a pretty rough commute if you’re doing it every day. If you can work on the train then it’s not so bad. My daily commute has been 45 minutes to an hour with nowhere near as much mileage because I’m driving locally in Chester County. 45 minutes to an hour doesn’t sound bad, but it wears on you. It’s even less than 30 miles but that’s what the traffic is like. The good thing is if you drove, you could just take the turnpike. Going west in the morning shouldn’t be bad.

It's feasible but the expense both in time and cost is going to be up there.

As others have mentioned a monthly rail pass will run you about 450+ a month with a time cost of 4 to 5 hours per day just commuting.

Personally if you have to do this and can't move for a year the more feasible option would be to find an apartment with room mate for the year that is just a crash pad and drive in and out every weekend. Above that in cost would be weekly hotel check ins.

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