Editing Keystone Service (section)

=== Modern improvements ===
[[File:Exton station as Amtrak Keystone Service train 664 arriving.jpg|thumb|right|An eastbound ''Keystone Service'' train arriving at the rebuilt Exton station in 2021]]
In November 1996, as part of a general cutback of Regional Rail service, SEPTA cut service back to Downingtown, leaving Parkesburg and {{amtk|Coatesville}} as Amtrak-only stations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1998 |title=Transit Accessibility in the Delaware Valley Region |url=http://www.dvrpc.org/reports/98015.pdf |publisher=Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission |page=11}}</ref> Amtrak added the stations to several existing round trips as a result.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1996 |title=On the Railroad Lines… |url=http://dvarp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dvrp9612.pdf |journal=The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger |publisher=Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers |volume=14 |issue=12 |page=5 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002838/http://dvarp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dvrp9612.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Amtrak discontinued its stops at {{station link|SEPTA|Whitford}} and {{station link|SEPTA|Malvern}} (both served only by a single round trip) on April 5, 1998, reducing the number of suburban stations shared by SEPTA and ''Keystone Service'' trains to four.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1998 |title=Schedule Changes |url=http://dvarp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dvrp9804.pdf |journal=The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger |publisher=Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers |volume=16 |issue=4 |page=10 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002011/http://dvarp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dvrp9804.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Beginning in 2000, Amtrak and [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]] spent $166 million to rehabilitate the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line. This included the restoration of fully electrified service, as well as track improvements for a top speed of {{convert|110|mph}}. When the project was completed and electric service began in October 2006, travel times between Harrisburg and Philadelphia were reduced from 120 minutes to 95 minutes, with further time savings for through trains by eliminating the need for an engine change at Philadelphia. Service was also increased from 11 to 14 daily round trips. By FY 2010, ridership was up 91% since FY 2000 and 58% since FY 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2011 |title=Amtrak's Northeast Corridor: Facts and Background Information |url=https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/527/443/Amtrak%20Northeast%20Corridor%2010.pdf |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>

Later improvements aimed to develop a sealed corridor without public [[Level crossing|at-grade crossings]], which would allow future speed increases to {{convert|125|mph|kph}} west of Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keystone Corridor East High Speed Phase II |url=http://www.planthekeystone.com/highspeedrail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021064857/http://planthekeystone.com/highspeedrail.html |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=July 20, 2013 |publisher=planthekeystone.com}}</ref> The last two such at-grade crossings on the line, located just east of [[Mount Joy, Pennsylvania|Mount Joy]], were closed on September 24, 2014. They were replaced with a bridge connecting to a nearby street.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hainthaler |first=Joe |date=September 23, 2014 |title=Two roads carrying traffic south from Route 230 in Mount Joy to close Wednesday |work=Lancaster Online |url=http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/two-roads-carrying-traffic-south-from-route-in-mount-joy/article_1833ef54-434c-11e4-bae7-0017a43b2370.html |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> However, private crossings continued to be used on the line. One private crossing east of [[Mount Joy, Pennsylvania|Mount Joy]] was closed soon after a train collided with a tractor using the crossing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Amtrak train collides with farm tractor near Mount Joy |url=https://www.abc27.com/news/local/lancaster/amtrak-train-collides-with-farm-equipment/1219726524 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212170822/https://www.abc27.com/news/local/lancaster/amtrak-train-collides-with-farm-tractor-near-mount-joy/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |publisher=WHTM-TV}}</ref> Today, only one private crossing remains on the line, west of Lancaster on a private roadway leading to a substation.

On March 18, 2020, Amtrak temporarily suspended all ''Keystone Service'' trains due to declining demand because of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hertzler |first=Richard |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Amtrak to suspend train service in Lancaster County Wednesday as riders avoid transportation hubs amid COVID-19 fears |work=Lancaster Online |url=https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/amtrak-to-suspend-train-service-in-lancaster-county-wednesday-as/article_0806b638-67d7-11ea-a7e5-8fc5d77e88cd.html |access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus |date=March 24, 2020 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |access-date=March 25, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325190328/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |archive-date=March 25, 2020 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg resumed on June 1, 2020, with all-reserved seating.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2020 |title=Amtrak announces re-opening of some Pa. service, with new safety guidelines |publisher=PennLive |url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/05/amtrak-announces-re-opening-of-some-pa-service-with-new-safety-guidelines.html |access-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref> On July 6, 2020, Amtrak restored one ''Keystone Service'' train in each direction running the full route between New York City and Harrisburg.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pickel |first=Greg |date=July 1, 2020 |title=Amtrak will restore one daily Keystone line service to and from New York and Harrisburg starting next week |publisher=PennLive |url=https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/07/amtrak-will-restore-one-daily-keystone-line-service-to-and-from-new-york-and-harrisburg-starting-next-week.html |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Amtrak restored full service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg on September 8, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kiner |first=Deb |date=September 8, 2020 |title=Amtrak restores Keystone Service between Harrisburg and Philadelphia |publisher=PennLive |url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/09/amtrak-restores-keystone-service-between-harrisburg-and-philadelphia.html |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> On January 4, 2021, Amtrak reduced service levels along the  ''Keystone Service'' due to decreased ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the reduction in service, the ''Keystone Service'' had seven roundtrips on weekdays and six roundtrips on weekends between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, with three daily roundtrips running the full route between New York City and Harrisburg.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Derry |first=Will |date=January 4, 2021 |title=Amtrak modifies Keystone Service schedule; several trips from Harrisburg to New York suspended |work=Lancaster Online |url=https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/amtrak-modifies-keystone-service-schedule-several-trips-from-harrisburg-to-new-york-suspended/article_f5dcd8f2-4ebc-11eb-ba16-6b946f706046.html |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Most pre-pandemic service was restored on April 25, 2022, with eleven weekday Philadelphia–Harrisburg round trips.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak and PennDOT to Restore Most Keystone Service |date=April 8, 2022 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2022/04/amtrak-and-penndot-to-restore-most-keystone-service/}}</ref>

From March to November 2024, midday ''Keystone Service'' trains were replaced with buses west of Lancaster to allow for track work.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/03/amtrak-begins-major-harrisburg-line-track-renewal/ |title=Amtrak Begins Major Harrisburg Line Track Renewal |publisher=Amtrak |date=March 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/11/amtrak-welcomes-back-keystone-service-customers-after-restoring-weekday-trains-between-lancaster-and-harrisburg/ |title=Amtrak Welcomes Back Keystone Service Customers After Restoring Weekday Trains Between Lancaster and Harrisburg |date=November 18, 2024 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>