Rail commuters catching the first eastbound train Monday may find themselves left at the station. Those hoping to catch later trains will instead find themselves early and waiting for the train to arrive.

Amtrak is making several schedule changes to its Keystone line beginning Monday. One of those changes is the simplification of its fares. Gone will be the slightly higher midday fares.

There will still be 14 eastbound trains out of Lancaster on weekdays and 13 westbound trains.

The first morning train through Lancaster to Philadelphia, at 5:30 a.m. Monday, will arrive five minutes earlier than it does on the current schedule. The following eastbound trains, which come about hourly during peak time, will arrive earlier. The second train, at 6:51 a.m., is typical: It will arrive 15 minutes earlier than it did before.

The trip to Philadelphia also will take longer. The shortest travel time on the current schedule is one hour and three minutes. With the schedule changes, the shortest trip becomes one hour, 13 minutes.

The tickets for the train will be slightly cheaper. Currently, the $15 adult fare for an unreserved coach seat to Philadelphia rises to $18 from late morning to early evening. On Monday, that fare remains $15.

Similarly, tickets on the Keystone line from Lancaster to Harrisburg now rise from $8 to $9.50 from late morning to evening. That fare will remain $8 beginning next week.

With the exception of the first westbound train, which will arrive five minutes earlier, at 6:30 a.m., the remaining westbound trains' schedules will not change.

The travel time to Harrisburg will increase by two minutes, from 32 minutes to 34.

The State Transportation Department, which helps support the Keystone passenger rail service, announced Thursday that changes to the schedule would begin Monday but may continue to be made through August.

Rail travelers can consult Amtrak, at www.Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245), for up-to-date arrival and departure times.

bharris@lnpnews.com