Following recent announcements of expanded passenger rail service, including a second daily Pennsylvanian train between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York, Amtrak today announced the creation of a new Board-level System Expansion Committee focused on growing passenger rail service across the country.

The committee’s initial members are Robert A. Gleason (Chair), Elaine Clegg (Vice Chair), Joel Szabat, Chris Koos, and a designated U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary representative.

Approved by the Amtrak Board of Directors on July 30, the System Expansion Committee will serve as the Board’s primary forum for advancing passenger rail growth. The new committee comes as demand continues to grow across the Amtrak network. During the first nine months of the 2026 fiscal year, Amtrak served 1.7 million more customers than in the same period last year and exceeded its year-to-date ridership plan.

The committee will oversee:

 Growing passenger rail service and frequencies

 Advancing corridor development opportunities

 Expanding state-supported service partnerships

 Ensuring infrastructure and fleet readiness

 Strengthening host railroad partnerships

 Developing sustainable funding strategies for growth

The System Expansion Committee reflects Amtrak’s continued focus on turning growing demand into real service expansion, building on recent milestones such as the launch of Borealis and the one-year anniversary of Amtrak Mardi Gras Service as Amtrak expands connectivity and transportation choice across America.

-via Press Release