U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle warned earlier this week that if SEPTA implements its planned cuts, Amtrak may be forced to eliminate the Keystone Line, which shares a route with the Paoli-Thorndale line, write Julia Terruso and Thomas Fitzgerald for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The line connects Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and New York City.
According to Boyle, Amtrak president Roger Harris warned that a delay in receiving state operating funds for SEPTA could cost Amtrak $71.1 million annually, resulting in the elimination of the Keystone Service line.
SEPTA pays Amtrak for the right to operate five Regional Rail commuter trains on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor, including the track between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. The transit agency plans to discontinue these trains in January if state funding is not approved.
In addition to track access, the payment funds Amtrak-generated electricity for the trains on those lines and helps pay for select capital projects.
“The potential reduction in SEPTA’s financial contribution will have a negative impact on Amtrak’s ability to reinvest in the rail network,” said the national passenger railroad. “This could lead to a deterioration in infrastructure condition and authorized train operating speeds.”
Read more about Amtrak’s Keystone line possibly being affected as SEPTA issues continue to loom in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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