In the near future, I will introduce before the Senate a resolution declaring May 9, 2026 as “National Train Day” in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This resolution compliments actions taken in recent sessions in the House by Rep. Matzie to recognize National Train Day in our Commonwealth.
 
National Train Day was started in 2008 by Amtrak to educate the public about the history of railway travel in the U.S. It is celebrated on or around the date commemorating the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869. National Train Day is uniquely cherished in Pennsylvania, as the development of rail transformed the Commonwealth into an industrial powerhouse, and the forebearers of several major commuter rail networks across the country, including SEPTA’s Regional Rail, are found in the Pennsylvania Railroad, once the world’s largest railroad and one of the world's largest corporations with a budget second only to that of the U.S. government's.
 
Rail travel continues to function as a critical mode of transportation in Pennsylvania, carrying freight and passengers alike, serving urban, suburban, and rural communities. Please join me in cosponsorship of a resolution recognizing this pivotal component of Pennsylvania life.