The New York Central main line between Buffalo and Chicago was the main railroad through Erie, using Union Station. Amtrak continues to use this route. Also using Union Station was Pennsylvania Railroad, whose Northern Division main line diverged at XC, 1 mile east of the station, and extended southeast to Williamsport, Sunbury and Harrisburg. Pennsylvania Railroad had another line, which used trackage rights via NYC to Girard, 17 miles west, and diverged south to Pittsburgh.
Erie was located on the Nickel Plate main line between Buffalo and Chicago, with NKP using its own station. Trains operated in the middle of 19th St. until 2001, when a railroad relocation project moved the route to pass Union Station.
A Bessemer & Lake Erie line extended southwest from Erie, with passenger service extending to Greenville. B&LE used its own station in Erie. At Cascade, 2 miles west of the station, the B&LE line joined the Nickel Plate main line for trackage rights to Wallace Jct. in Fairview, 12 miles further west.