New transportation authority created for Philadelphia suburbs

[BlackDiamond]

A new authority has been created with the goal of restoring passenger service to counties around Philadelphia that lost it when the former Reading RR Diesel hauled services were discontinued in 1981. This will enable them to apply for grants and contract with operators, most likely Amtrak

Schuylkill River passenger authority

 

[jis]

Some more on it

https://www.phillyvoice.com/commuter-train-philadelphia-reading-chester-berks-montgomery-amtrak/
When I went to the Valley Forge National Park several times while at Stony Brook and Bell Labs, each time I looked at that railroad and said to myself "this needs a service from Philadelphia". Well, finally it will happen I guess.

I wonder where the Valley Forge station will be. The station at the park still exists and the building is maintained

 

[BlackDiamond]

Shortly before the discontinuances in 1981 I rode two of these routes - Philadelphia - Reading - Pottsville and Philadelphia - Bethlehem. The trains to Bethlehem and Reading were 2 car RDCs and were well patronized. At Reading you transferred to the Pottsville train a single RDC and lightly loaded.

 

[railiner]

Shortly before the discontinuances in 1981 I rode two of these routes - Philadelphia - Reading - Pottsville and Philadelphia - Bethlehem. The trains to Bethlehem and Reading were 2 car RDCs and were well patronized. At Reading you transferred to the Pottsville train a single RDC and lightly loaded.

I regret not ever riding that line to Bethlehem, but ten years earlier, I rode the remnant of Reading’s “Wall Streeter”, from Newark Penn Station to Philly Reading Terminal, enjoying the bar car on the way. At Philly, it reversed direction and continued all the way thru to Pottsville, although with different train number, and bar car shut down…

 

[MARC Rider]

If Amtrak runs the service, I wonder if they'll be able to run it through into Philadelphia through the Center City Tunnel to 30th St., and then have the same consist continue out to Harrisburg as a Keystone service train. It would be the first time an Amtrak train has used Suburban Sation since the 1980s. It would also have to wait until they get those dual power locomotives from Siemens, as they need diesel to run from Reading to Norristown, but need to be electric to run through the Center City tunnel.

 

[BlackDiamond]

I regret not ever riding that line to Bethlehem, but ten years earlier, I rode the remnant of Reading’s “Wall Streeter”, from Newark Penn Station to Philly Reading Terminal, enjoying the bar car on the way. At Philly, it reversed direction and continued all the way thru to Pottsville, although with different train number, and bar car shut down…

Yes I have the opposite regret, wishing I had ridden the Crusader/Wall Street when I had the chance. The Bethlehem train was actually my first train ride in the US and as a Lehigh University student used it often to travel to Philly

 

[railiner]

If Amtrak runs the service, I wonder if they'll be able to run it through into Philadelphia through the Center City Tunnel to 30th St., and then have the same consist continue out to Harrisburg as a Keystone service train. It would be the first time an Amtrak train has used Suburban Sation since the 1980s. It would also have to wait until they get those dual power locomotives from Siemens, as they need diesel to run from Reading to Norristown, but need to be electric to run through the Center City tunnel.

I am surprised that Amtrak would want to run that service…seems to me to be more in SEPTA’s “wheelhouse”.
Of course, if Amtrak did run it, they could also run some thru service to anywhere on the NEC…

 

[BlackDiamond]

I am surprised that Amtrak would want to run that service…seems to me to be more in SEPTA’s “wheelhouse”.

SEPTAs operating area is Philadelphia and the 4 adjacent counties - Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. While they do stray outside of these counties for or operational reasons e.g. Trenton and West Trenton, they are pretty much confined to those counties. Reading (Berks County) and Bethlehem (Northampton County) are outside of this area and have historically shown no interest in joining SEPTA or setting up their own transit authorities beyond basic bus services in some cities.

 

[railiner]

SEPTAs operating area is Philadelphia and the 4 adjacent counties - Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. While they do stray outside of these counties for or operational reasons e.g. Trenton and West Trenton, they are pretty much confined to those counties. Reading (Berks County) and Bethlehem (Northampton County) are outside of this area and have historically shown no interest in joining SEPTA or setting up their own transit authorities beyond basic bus services in some cities.

Reminds me of Colorado, where Larimer and Weld counties declined joining the Denver RTD transit district…

 

[BalmyZephyr]

Some more on it

https://www.phillyvoice.com/commuter-train-philadelphia-reading-chester-berks-montgomery-amtrak/
When I went to the Valley Forge National Park several times while at Stony Brook and Bell Labs, each time I looked at that railroad and said to myself "this needs a service from Philadelphia". Well, finally it will happen I guess.

I wonder where the Valley Forge station will be. The station at the park still exists and the building is maintained

Beautiful picture. Is the Port Kennedy station a possibility too?