While passenger rail service hasn’t returned to Berks and Montgomery counties quite yet, a bus service that will connect Reading and Pottstown to trains in Philadelphia will begin on Monday.
Amtrak has announced it will launch thruway bus service between Reading and Philadelphia, with a stop in Pottstown. The service will initially feature two daily round trips.
The bus service is designed to connect riders with Amtrak trains headed to the more than 1,000 destinations that are part of Amtrak’s national network.
Buses will depart and arrive at William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. They will make stops at the bus stop on Hanover Street in Pottstown, across the railroad tracks from the Charles W. Dickinson Transportation Center, as well as Reading’s BARTA Transportation Center at 701 Franklin St.
The service is being provided in coordination with South Central Transit Authority and Pottstown Area Economic Development.
The buses will be operated by Krapf Coaches under an agreement with Amtrak. All buses are ADA accessible.
Customers can purchase tickets at Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 800-USA-RAIL.
News of the bus service comes as officials in Berks, Montgomery and Chester counties continue to work on a plan to restore passenger rail service to the region. Amtrak announced plans last year to add that service.
The three counties this year approved creating the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority in an effort to advance that effort, which will likely take several years to come to fruition.
Officials have said the authority will provide legitimacy in competitive efforts for infrastructure funding, have the power to receive federal funding, spend money to develop plans and work directly with organizations such as Amtrak, PennDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration and other necessary partners.
Schedule
From Reading to Philadelphia
• Departs at 7 a.m. and arrives at 8:55 a.m.
• Departs at 2 p.m. and arrives at 3:55 p.m.
From Pottstown to Philadelphia
• Departs at 7:30 a.m. and arrives at 8:55 a.m.
• Departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 3:55 p.m.
From Philadelphia to Reading
• Departs at 11:35 a.m. and arrives at 1:20 p.m.
• Departs at 5:55 p.m. and arrives at 7:40 p.m.
From Philadelphia to Pottstown
• Departs at 11:35 a.m. and arrives at 12:50 p.m.
• Departs at 5:55 p.m. and arrives at 7:10 p.m.
Source: Berkshire mont
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