 The post @-@ war boom in automobile travel and the construction of the Interstate Highway System , as well as competition from commercial airlines , led to the inevitable decline of passenger rail . The Pennsylvania Railroad eliminated passenger service between Erie and Pittsburgh in April 1948 . It eventually ended through service to Philadelphia , requiring passengers to transfer in Emporium , Pennsylvania , and discontinued service from Erie altogether on March 27 , 1965 . By 1968 , the number of New York Central trains was also reduced to five per day . The two railroads were merged on February 1 , 1968 , and formed the Penn Central Transportation Company . Penn Central continued to run the former New York Central passenger trains , until the last departed Union Station on April 30 , 1971 . The newly created National Passenger Rail Corporation , more commonly known as Amtrak , took over nationwide passenger rail operations the next day . Amtrak continued to operate a New York @-@ to @-@ Chicago train until January 1972 , the Lake Shore , which had a station stop in Erie starting in November 1971 . However , the poor condition of the track between Buffalo and Chicago , as well as the service 's general lack of profitability , led to the Lake Shore 's demise . Erie remained devoid of any passenger rail service until Amtrak reintroduced the former New York Central train , the Lake Shore Limited , on November 30 , 1975 . 
