For Juniata students who utilize Amtrak to get home during break time, it is an all too familiar routine. Do I get on the 10:44 morning train heading eastbound to Harrisburg, or the 4:22 afternoon westbound to Pittsburgh? One of the biggest issues that plagues Juniata students is the lack of flexibility on choosing when to get on the train. Granted, all trains run on a schedule, and passenger trains specifically, such as the Pennsylvanian run daily on a time table, but it severely limits a student’s ability to get to and from a location if they rely on train service, especially for those who want to spend as much time as they can with their families over thanksgiving holiday. For example, the earliest I am personally allowed to leave, and in most cases, other students because of classes is that Wednesday right before Thanksgiving because Juniata cancels classes on that particular day. Because I live in Connecticut I must catch a few different trains to get from point A to point B. As it stands right now, I board the eastbound Pennsylvanian train 42 at 10:44am and will end up reaching my final destination in CT at 9:30pm. I should mention that if for whatever reason I miss that 10:44 departure that is the only train that goes east. It is a full day of traveling, and the same is true on the return trip from CT. All in all, I lose two full days of spending time with my family because of travel time. I am not saying that the number of hours in the journey would change if Amtrak were to introduce another train to the already pre-existing schedule, but it would allow for more flexibility and possibly an earlier arrival to Connecticut allowing me more time with my family. It also, more importantly, would build in a buffer in case anything did go wrong. For example, if a train was added earlier than 10:44 if I missed the earlier train I would have the 10:44 to fall back on, or if for whatever reason I miss the 10:44 and a train is added later, I would still be able to get home regardless. Having two trains a day through Pennsylvania would be a benefit to all.

I should point out that to this point I have been speaking merely on speculation, but the possibility of getting a second Amtrak train through Huntingdon is looking at least more probable than it was even a couple years, when, at that point, there was talk of eliminating passenger service through Pennsylvania all together. Thankfully that did not happen and just a few days ago Amtrak began a discussion with Penn DOT about possibly adding a second train. This second train is far from reality mainly because there are other factors which must be taken into consideration, mostly if the Norfolk Southern the company which owns the track which Amtrak rides upon will be able to still meet their freight demand and get their cargo where it needs to go. However, if the Norfolk Southern give their okay, and Amtrak crunches the number, who knows, sooner than later, Juniata students may have multiple Amtrak options to get home. Only time will tell if this second train becomes a reality. Until then, anyone who utilizes Amtrak will have to settle with Pennsylvanian trains 42 and 43.