The Pennsylvania General Assembly - authorized $150 mil for four high speed trains for the Harrisburg-Philadelphia area - Brief Article

Railway Age, Jan, 1998

THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY has authorized $150 million for the purchase and construction of four high speed trains to be used initially in Harrisburg to Philadelphia Keystone service. The service will link with Amtrak's new high speed Metroliners, which will run between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia beginning in 1999,with delivery of 18 trainsets from Bombardier/GEC Alsthom.

Specifically, $140 million was authorized for the PeanDOT to either piggyback on Amtrak's order or solicit new bids for the high speed trains, $10 million for a maintenance facility to support the trains, and $5 million to upgrade the Keystone Corridor with new equipment and track. The funding is coupled with a $26 million order for seven DMU's to be awarded by PennDot in early 1998.