SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Construction will soon begin to bring back the Scranton to New York City passenger train.
Millions of dollars in federal funding were announced Tuesday to rehabilitate the tracks and bridges in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The start of construction being announced is a huge deal.
It's taken decades of work to get to this point and now federal funding has secured the train is back on track.
"The key is the train has left the station and we're rolling," said Larry Malski, CEO, of Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority.
"This project is becoming much closer to being real," says Chris Barrett, President & CEO, of Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau.
President Biden coming to Scranton Saturday
So real soon construction on the project will begin.
At the Scranton Trolley Museum, on Monday Congressman Matt Cartwright and Senator Bob Casey announced they secured nearly nine million dollars in federal funding to kick off long-needed railway rehabilitation and track improvements to the Lackawanna cut-off.
28/22 News spoke with Joe Barr the Director of Network Development-East at Amtrak about the excitement behind the project.
"We're excited both about the specifics of this project, but also what it says about the future of rail in us," added Barr.
Barr says the future of rail in the Poconos and NEPA is bright.
"The range of possibilities are really limitless once they get on the train," noted Barr.
All aboard well not yet.
Before the first Amtrak train can run between Scranton and New York the railway needs to be restored.
The first three bridges need rehabilitation and this funding will go to restoring the first bridge.
"It will also provide the construction money for new ties, new rails, stone ballast, etc. The elements that we need to put into the railroad that we own between Scranton and the Delaware Water Gap to raise the speeds to 80 mph," explained Malski.
Making travel between New York City and Scranton faster and easier.
"We think it will bring tens of thousands of new folks visiting the Poconos but also to coming into Scranton," stated Barrett.
While increasing the quality of life for those who live in NEPA.
"It's a quality of life issue for us here in northeastern Pennsylvania to be able to go back and forth to New York whenever we want," continued Barrett.
Two other bridges will need to be addressed in the third phase. Rail service connecting Scranton to New York City is still on track for 2029.
