Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) has finalized an agreement today to bring back passenger trains to Tamaqua’s 146 year old train station including the building of a new passenger platform. Andy Muller, Jr, CEO of the Reading & Northern Railroad, met with members of Tamaqua Council, Senator David Argall, and his staff this morning at the Tamaqua train station. Mr. Muller and family arrived by train to celebrate the event.
The platform in front of the station will be renovated into a safe and practical boarding area to serve the community for years to come. The platform is being installed through a public-private partnership between the Borough of Tamaqua and the Reading & Northern Railroad. Construction will begin this spring with the first train rides offered in time for Tamaqua’s Summerfest on Fathers’ Day, June 21.
Following Summerfest, the railroad will host several “Ride and Dine” trips from the Railroad’s new Reading Outer Station to Tamaqua with its Rail Diesel Cars (RDC). The trains will leave Reading mid-afternoon and de-train at the new Tamaqua train station platform where guests will dine at a local restaurant.
Among other possible trips, one definite trip will be the return of a Santa Claus Special train, date to be announced, during the Christmas season. Santa train trips will depart the station at 10:30am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm for the first Santa trains hosted by Tamaqua in over two years.