Governor Tom Corbett’s office announced a plan with Amtrak that should keep the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh rail service in operation.

According to Corbett an agreement was reached Thursday for the state to contribute $3.8-million a year to keep the “Pennsylvanian” running through central Pennsylvania.  The train makes two daily stops in Johnstown, Altoona, Tyrone and Huntingdon.

"I applaud Amtrak for its willingness to work with my administration on a funding plan that makes sense for Pennsylvania in these difficult economic times and maintains this passenger rail service that provides important connections for many towns in western Pennsylvania," Corbett said in a press statement.

Last month, it was announced by Amtrak that the service would be discontinued unless the state picked up the $5.7-million tab to keep it running. 

"It is difficult to justify on its face, just between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg," said PennDOT spokesperson Erin Waters-Trasatt back in February. "But we do recognize that there are communities along that line that it's very important to."

Once the possible elimination of train service was announced, communities rallied to draw attention to the need. 

The “Pennsylvanian” was put on the chopping block because a law passed in 2008 required the state to pay for rail service routes less than 750 miles.   The “Pennsylvanian” is about 440 miles, as it runs from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg.

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