A study released by Amtrak estimates that adding a second daily Pittsburgh-to-New York train would produce a $6.7 million annual operating loss but says the service increase is "worthy of further consideration."

The study, mandated by Congress and issued last week, also estimated that $88 million would be needed for locomotives and rail cars to expand the service.

Amtrak currently operates one daily round trip on the Pennsylvanian, which extends from Pittsburgh to New York City via Harrisburg.

A second round trip would increase ridership by 144,400 per year but additional operating costs would exceed the added revenue by $6.7 million, or about $46 per passenger. That is below Amtrak's current per-passenger subsidy of about $59.

"If the state and federal policy makers want to move forward with that option, they're going to have to find a funding source," said Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation does not have the money to subsidize the additional trip, said spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick.

Moreover, the state has applied for $750,000 in federal economic stimulus funds toward a more comprehensive $1.5 million study of improving service between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, on what is known as the Keystone Corridor West.

If that study is funded, it would not be completed until October 2011. It is unlikely PennDOT would fund an expansion of service before then, Mr. Kirkpatrick said.

The ultimate goal of the study, according to PennDOT's application, is to increase service to eight round trips per day and the maximum speed of trains from 79 mph to 110 mph, cutting as much as two hours off the current 51/2-hour travel time from Pittsburgh to the state capital.

That would require substantial capital improvements to the rail line, which is owned by Norfolk Southern Railway and heavily used by freight trains.

PennDOT and Amtrak achieved similar results with a $145.5 million program of improvements to the Harrisburg-to-Philadelphia corridor from 2002 to 2006. That effort cut travel times by 90 minutes and boosted ridership enough to support 14 daily round trips.

"Increasing service from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh is a logical progression to create a successful corridor linking most of Pennsylvania. The improved service corridor would encourage increased rail travel between key cities such as Harrisburg, Altoona and Pittsburgh as well as to other Midwestern destinations in Ohio and beyond," PennDOT said in its application.

The Federal Railroad Administration will award $8 billion in stimulus funding for projects nationwide this winter. It has received $57 billion in applications from states.

The Amtrak study noted a dearth of transportation options for Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg travelers. There has been no direct air service since US Airways halted it in September 2008. Greyhound operates six to eight daily trips.

The Steel City Flyer, a motorcoach service geared toward business travelers, ceased operations in July because of low ridership.

The one-way Amtrak coach fare to Harrisburg is $36. The report said driving takes 31/2 hours but costs an estimated $125 in fuel, tolls and vehicle wear-and-tear.

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