Amtrak’s ‘Pennsylvanian’ connecting Pittsburgh and New York to get new Airo trains

PITTSBURGH — The passenger rail service from Amtrak connecting Pittsburgh and New York is among a select few routes nationally that will see its trains receive a major upgrade in the coming years that “will transform the travel experience.”

It’s part of an effort called Amtrak Airo, which will debut a train that features brand new locomotives and passenger cars across 14 routes in 2026, including the “Pennsylvanian” train service from Amtrak that originates or terminates in Pittsburgh and New York depending on direction, though it also has stops in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and other locations. The Keystone Service, which has stops in New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg as well as at other stations between these cities, is also set to receive this upgrade.

“PennDOT is a proud supporter of intercity passenger rail and promotes mobility options for all Pennsylvanians,” Andy Batson, PennDOT acting deputy secretary for multimodal transportation, said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Amtrak to provide high-quality transportation in Pennsylvania.”