Keystone Corridor discussion

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I am going on the Keystone from Elizabethtown to Philadelphia on Train 600 in May (on a Friday). My parents are going on the following day (Saturday) on 660 from/to the same stations. I understand they are running busses between Lancaster and Harrisburg between April and November due to a track project. From what I read, we SHOULD be okay going to Philadelphia. Coming back to Elizabethtown will be a different story. We will be coming back on a Tuesday in later May on Train 645. What do we need to know about this? What kind of buses do they use? We will have suitcases.
 
Congrats on being one of the 450 affected Daily passengers! As I understand it standard intercity coach bus service will be provided from LNC-HAR and all intermediate stations. Amtrak personnel will “theoretically” assist with the transfer. At the least the conductors will make an announcement with instructions. I presume bags will be accommodated.

As to how to deal with it, train 43 leaves PHL 50 minutes earlier than 645. 609 leaves an hour later and should also run entirely as train service. If you could, I would call 1-800-USA-RAIL and see about jumping on either of those trains. Truthfully, I doubt there would be much difference in your arrival time if you took 609 given the time it will take to make the transfer, get on 283, stop at Mount Joy, get back on 283…

Your fare for 645 should be good for 609 given the Keystone is an UNRESERVED service, ie no formal change in your itinerary would be required
 
Oreius said:
I am going on the Keystone from Elizabethtown to Philadelphia on Train 600 in May (on a Friday). My parents are going on the following day (Saturday) on 660 from/to the same stations. I understand they are running busses between Lancaster and Harrisburg between April and November due to a track project. From what I read, we SHOULD be okay going to Philadelphia. Coming back to Elizabethtown will be a different story. We will be coming back on a Tuesday in later May on Train 645. What do we need to know about this? What kind of buses do they use? We will have suitcases.
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Train 600 is unaffected by the track work.

As for what to expect, I wish I could give you an answer. T&E crews in Philly and especially Harrisburg are anxiously awaiting answers on what to expect. Once I have an answer on what to expect that I can make public I will gladly post.
 
Acela150 said:
Train 600 is unaffected by the track work.

As for what to expect, I wish I could give you an answer. T&E crews in Philly and especially Harrisburg are anxiously awaiting answers on what to expect. Once I have an answer on what to expect that I can make public I will gladly post.
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Thanks for the advice. Here’s what we’re doing: we’re taking the Pennsylvanian (43) for the trip back to Elizabethtown since 645 does indeed stop at Lancaster and we’d have to take a bus for the remainder of the trip and lug the luggage off the train and on/off the bus. I called the dedicated AGR phone number and asked them all my questions. Trains 600 and 660 are unaffected. One question: Can we check baggage to Elizabethtown from Philadelphia? I know the Pennsylvanian has a baggage car…
 
Oreius said:
Thanks for the advice. Here’s what we’re doing: we’re taking the Pennsylvanian (43) for the trip back to Elizabethtown since 645 does indeed stop at Lancaster and we’d have to take a bus for the remainder of the trip and lug the luggage off the train and on/off the bus. I called the dedicated AGR phone number and asked them all my questions. Trains 600 and 660 are unaffected. One question: Can we check baggage to Elizabethtown from Philadelphia? I know the Pennsylvanian has a baggage car…
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No. We don’t have checked bags on or off at Etown as it’s not a staffed station.

Should you want to check bags, check them to Lancaster where they can get them off.
 
Amtrak25 said:
"between Pittsburgh and New York City will still provide daily midday service through the project area, featuring additional seating capacity."

What will that mean - another coach (+72 seats) or replace the 4-Am-2 coaches with 4 Am-1 coaches (+48 seats) ?
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I'm sure that they will need to add some more coaches to the Pennsylvanian to accommodate the Keystone passengers if needed. I know that at times, the Pennsylvanian can become pretty crowded around that area. I plan on watching the railcams around the start of that time to see what ends up being planned.
 
chadamfleetrailfan said:
I'm sure that they will need to add some more coaches to the Pennsylvanian to accommodate the Keystone passengers if needed. I know that at times, the Pennsylvanian can become pretty crowded around that area. I plan on watching the railcams around the start of that time to see what ends up being planned.
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The plan is to add cars.
 
Now that it's April 15 and we're a week into this "project," I wonder what they're doing with the trains now. My trip is coming up in a couple of weeks....
 
A few weeks ago, I was at a family reunion held on the Philadelphia side of PA, and I was able to gain a few moments to break away. With where I was (Valley Forge area), I wanted to see where the nearest Amtrak station was to me (I always look for places like this in other places I visit since where I live Amtrak is 2+ hours in any direction) and I found that the nearest station to me was Paoli (about 20 mins away from where I was staying).

I was able to head to Paoli and railfanned from the platform and was able to see #671 pass through at night (I only had a few moments to stay there and head back, so I was only able to get this). I wanted to get some SEPTA as well, but didn't have time. I've never seen any of the Keystones in person before (always from the Paradise railcam), so it was a treat for me to be in the presence of one (including the metroliner cab car and the ACS64).

1723080235989.jpeg
 
PaTrainFan said:
An Amtrak infrastructure project to be completed early!

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-rev...tutions-on-harrisburg-line-ahead-of-schedule/
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I found out about a week ago that things were 2 week’s ahead of schedule. However it wasn’t confirmed until this week. Currently expect eastbound trains to lose 10-15 minutes between Coatesville and Downingtown as 1 track is out of service between Park (2 miles west of Parkersburg) and Caln (near Thorndale) the TLM is working and has been for about a week now.
 
Amtrak25 said:
Then the 2 Amfleet-2 coaches that they used to lengthen the Pennsylvanians by 1 car can be sent to Floridian service. Maybe that's why they wrapped up early.
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100% not the reason. Taking Mains out of service for hours at a time in the Middle of the Day has really helped this project wrap up 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I'll add that I believe that no work was performed overnight for this project. If that's true and work was not performed overnight, performing work overnight would have been completed much earlier. Again, I'm not sure if this is true or not.
 
The quicker ROW work can be completed the better for passenger awareness/ Have to wonder if Amtrak did not have enough workers to work at least 2 shifts rehabbing the Keystone?

Now for freights soome time has to be allowed for freight service to run any work zone at night.
 
PaTrainFan said:
Major upgrades announced for power system to segment of Keystone Corridor.
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Evidently this project will be 4 or more years in the construction. Hopefully all the OCS replacements will be constant tension.

The Bryn Mawr substation replacement is an indication of why there are some Keystones being replaced with diesels. Could be that the equipment cannot put out enough power . Also with the upgrades and possible faster trains and more cars the power draw may at times be too much. That might be indicated by voltage drops. Could be regeneration on the Harrisburg line is restricted?

Note the Bryn Mawr substation does not have the 138 kV High voltage power lines so that installation of the 138 line may increase power potential there very much.

Have to wonder if all this installation will be compatible for future conversion to 60 hZ in the future? Antone with link to detailed contract that can be posted?
 
BlackDiamond said:
Would it be worth converting this one segment when the rest of the NEC is still 25 Hz? Also I'm not sure the older SEPTA equipment that uses the line as far as Thorndale can handle 60 Hz.
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What others have posted is that SEPTA does have some equipment not compatible with 60 hZ. Signaling might also be a possibility of not being compatible, I believe a compassion of MNRR conversion costs might be informative and add inflation factor. It will be expensive.

Although IMO 60 hZ is the way to go this is not the right time to convert. There are too many costly capital projects needed to get the NEC tracks and CAT specifically the PRR portion in a state of good repair. Amtrak does not have enough capable electrical engineers and personnel to do anything but very preliminary planning and purchasing 25 / 60 compatible equipment.

Planning for conversion should be for SSY and NYP to allow for MNRR EMUs to eventually operate without the need to use 3rd rail. 3rd rail just cannot meet the power needed especially for top speeds and acceleration.

A big problem with the PRR 25 hZ was the PRR used as much of the 25 hZ for every electrical need. Example, many years ago when in BAL Penn station I could see the lights dim as trains accelerated northbound out of the station. Now how much off CAT equipment has been converted to 60 I have no idea. Maybe all?

It might be easiest although not the most important would be WASH to Perry. North of Perry the 25 hZ will be needed for the rest of the PRR tracks. Any specific 25 hZ equipment might be transferred there if needed. We have to remember that Amtrak is going to need more power for longer Regionals and more AX-2s.

`One problem with 60 hZ is that Amtrak's 25 hZ uses rotary converters to smooth out the regeneration sloopy sine waves. Now of course there are electronic ways to smooth out but how effective unknown to this poster.
 

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