Passenger rail service from the Poconos to New York City is becoming more of a reality, as PennDOT has thrown its support behind the idea now. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has drawn up an official application for the program under which Amtrak trains would carry passengers from Pennsylvania to New York City. If approved, the federal government would pick up 80 percent of the cost of the project. Amtrak could release its plan for passenger rail service sometime this week.