Amtrak, SRPRA to advance Philadelphia-area passenger-rail project

Amtrak and the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize their partnership as both parties work to bring passenger-rail service back to Reading, Pottstown and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. 

“Amtrak is proud to partner with the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority to advance the potential restoration of passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia,” said Amtrak Vice President of Planning and State Partnerships Nicole Bucich. “We look forward to the opportunity to reconnect communities like Reading to the Northeast Corridor and beyond, to support their economic and community development.”

Passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia was suspended in 1981, when the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority stopped service on non-electrified lines. 

The MOU affirms that Amtrak will operate the new passenger-rail service; formalizes Amtrak’s commitment to assume responsibility for ridership forecasting, revenue estimating, and operating and maintenance cost estimating tasks; and establishes Amtrak’s willingness to work with SRPRA, under terms to be negotiated, in future development tasks, including developing environmental documentation and final design. 

SRPRA’s chair, Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, commented, “This MOU is a major milestone in the Authority’s progress toward reintroduction of intercity passenger rail service in our region. We are grateful to Amtrak for their support, to all our stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and to our elected officials at all levels on both sides of the aisle who continue to help us advance this effort.”