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Today, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it awarded a $750,000 High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Grant to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to study a Keystone Corridor expansion from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh.

The study will evaluate the feasibility of electrifying track between the two cities, constructing dedicated track for passenger trains, and completing major signal and switch upgrades. The study also will analyze concrete tie installation, passenger-car procurement and alternative route alignments.

The FRA is providing the grant through its FY2009 Intercity Passenger Rail appropriation. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will provide a 50 percent match.

Passenger trains currently operate on the Keystone Corridor between New York City, Philadelphia and Harrisburg at 110 mph. Ridership has increased from 891,764 in 2006 to 1,296,838 in 2010.