Harrisburg Transportation Center facts for kids

The Harrisburg Transportation Center (also called HTC) is a big train station and a place where different types of transport meet in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You can find it in downtown Harrisburg, near the corners of 4th and Chestnut Streets. It's a main spot for people to catch trains and buses in the Harrisburg area and South Central Pennsylvania.

Quick facts for kids Harrisburg Transportation Center
Location	4th and Chestnut Streets, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°15′43″N 76°52′40″W / 40.26194°N 76.87778°W / 40.26194; -76.87778
Owned by	Amtrak
Line(s)	Keystone Corridor (Main Line, Pittsburgh Line)
Platforms	4 island platforms
Tracks	8
Connections	Greyhound Lines Fullington Trailways Capital Area Transit Rabbit Transit
Construction
Parking	Metered
Bicycle facilities	Outside racks
Disabled access	Yes
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
Other information
Station code	HAR
History
Opened	1887
Rebuilt	1905, 1986
Electrified	January 15, 1938
Traffic
Passengers (FY 2018)	512,642  1.68%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Terminus Keystone Service Middletown toward New York Lewistown toward Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian Elizabethtown toward New York
Former services Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station Lewistown toward Chicago Main Line Middletown toward New York or Exchange Place Maclay Street toward Chicago Steelton toward New York or Exchange Place Dauphin toward Buffalo Buffalo – Harrisburg Terminus Dauphin toward Erie Erie – Harrisburg Dauphin toward Canandelaigua Williamsport Division Lemoyne toward Winchester Winchester – Harrisburg Terminus Northern Central Railway New Cumberland toward Calvert Street Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station Terminus Lebanon Valley Branch Canal toward Reading Schuylkill and Susquehanna Branch Rockville toward Auburn
Harrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
NRHP reference No.	75001638
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 11, 1975
Designated NHL	December 8, 1976
Location
Harrisburg Transportation Center Location in Pennsylvania

A Look Back: History of the HTC

Inside the station in February 2007

The building you see today is actually the third train station built in this spot. In the past, several different railway companies shared these stations. These included the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), Reading Railroad, Northern Central Railway, and the Cumberland Valley Railroad.

The first two stations were shared by all these companies. However, the third (and current) station was mostly used by the PRR and Northern Central Railway. The Reading Railroad built its own station nearby in 1856. The Cumberland Valley Railroad also had a smaller station next to the main one.

Over time, some of these older stations were torn down. The Reading Railroad stopped passenger service in the 1950s, and its station was removed in the early 1960s.

Building the Current Station

The current Harrisburg Transportation Center was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. It had a serious fire in 1904, so it was rebuilt and updated in 1905. This is when it got its unique barn-like roof.

The station is very important historically. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It's also known as a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place of special historical importance in the United States.

One cool thing about this station is that it still has a train shed over the tracks. Not many stations in the U.S. still have these. The building is made of red brick. This is different from many other large train stations built around the same time, like 30th Street Station in Philadelphia or Union Station in Washington, D.C., which often use white stone.

What's Inside: Building Usage

The Amtrak company owns the Harrisburg Transportation Center. The Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority helps manage and run it.

Spaces for People and Meetings

Above the main lobby, there are offices used by different groups. The building also has a meeting room called the Pennsylvania Room. This room can be used for meetings and other large gatherings.

For passengers, there's a newsstand on the first floor. You can buy newspapers, magazines, snacks, and drinks there. In the bus terminal area downstairs, you'll find vending machines for food and drinks.

Passenger Facilities

The station also has small lockers downstairs. You can use these for short-term storage of your belongings. There are restrooms and payphones on both the first floor and in the basement.

One of the tracks at the station has a special display. You can see a Pennsylvania RR GG1 locomotive there. This is a type of old electric train engine. Passengers waiting on the platforms can easily view it.

Getting Around: Transportation Services

The Harrisburg Transportation Center is a busy place for travelers. It offers both train and bus services.

Catching a Train: Intercity Rail

Trains at Harrisburg Transportation Center in 2018. The Keystone Service train is on the left, and the Pennsylvanian is on the right.

Amtrak provides train service to the station. Two main routes operate here: the Keystone Service and the Pennsylvanian. These trains travel along the Keystone Corridor and Northeast Corridor.

The Harrisburg Transportation Center is the last stop for Amtrak's Keystone Service. This route provides most of the train trips to and from Harrisburg. You can travel to cities like Lancaster, Philadelphia, and New York to the east. To the west, you can reach Altoona, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh.

You can buy tickets at the station from a person or a Quik-Trak machine. There's also "red cap service" to help passengers with luggage. In 2018, this station was the third busiest Amtrak station in Pennsylvania. It was also the 22nd busiest in the entire United States. Many people travel between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, making this a very active station.

Catching a Bus: Intercity Bus

Two main bus companies operate from the station: Greyhound Lines and Fullington Trailways. They offer rides to many cities and towns.

Bus Destinations in Pennsylvania

• Greyhound Lines can take you to places like Allentown, Altoona, Easton, Johnstown, Norristown, Lewistown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and York.
• Fullington Trailways serves cities such as Lewistown, State College, Hazleton, Pottsville, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre.

Bus Destinations Outside Pennsylvania

• Greyhound Lines offers rides to Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Newark, New York, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C..
• Fullington Trailways can connect you to other places through transfers, especially to Upstate New York via Scranton.

You can reach many more cities and towns, both in Pennsylvania and other states, by transferring between these bus services.

Getting Around Town: Connecting Services

The Harrisburg Transportation Center also connects you to local public transport.

Local Bus Services

The local bus company in the Harrisburg area is called Capital Area Transit (CAT). Many of their local and express bus routes stop very close to the Transportation Center. You can find stops on Aberdeen Street right outside, or a short walk away on Market Street. This makes it easy to switch between local buses and trains or intercity buses.

York County Connections

If you're coming from York County, Rabbit Transit runs its RabbitEXPRESS bus service on weekdays. This service connects the city of York to downtown Harrisburg. Like the CAT buses, RabbitEXPRESS stops are within one block of the HTC, not directly at the station.

Other Commuter Services

Another company, R & J Transportation, offers scheduled commuter bus service on weekdays. This service connects Schuylkill County to downtown Harrisburg. R & J's stops are also very close to the HTC, but you can't buy tickets for their service at the Transportation Center itself.

Gallery

• 

  The station around 1900

• 

  Around 1913

• 

  A special plaque inside the station, February 2007

Images for kids

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  Boarding the Pennsylvanian train, looking Eastbound, 2018