In the News

It’s been more than 50 years since passenger trains ferried travelers from Scranton to New York City, and many in Northeast Pennsylvania had given up hope that a rail line would ever return. But funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law may finally bring back passenger trains to run between the Electric City and the Big Apple. 

“We’re at the point where it’s ours to lose,” U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8th District), told the Capital-Star. 
A March 2023 study conducted by Amtrak projected rail service between Scranton and New York could generate $84 million in economic activity, while serving just under 475,000 riders annually.

Cartwright told the Capital-Star that the project has been his top priority since he was elected to Congress in 2012. Shortly after being sworn in, Cartwright said he had conversations with PNRRA officials Malski, Dominic Keating, and Bob Hay. 

Like Casey, he also spent the following years whipping up support for the project among his colleagues, including in May 2021 when he founded the Lackawanna Cutoff Rail Restoration Caucus with inaugural members U.S. Reps. Susan Wild (D-7th District), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). 

Cartwright also credited Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to the project. He said Shapiro agreed to provide $125 million in local-match funds, have PennDOT author the application to the Federal Railroad Administration, and co-sponsor it along with New Jersey Transit.