Oddly, I find Philadelphia's boarding procedures to be some of the smoothest on the system that I've experienced, and we're not a terminal for anything. (And probably are the grandest non-terminal station, with the most facilities and staff, on the system, I would guess.) Tons of comfortable waiting space, great visibility of train status, huge numbers of employees with information and willing to help, crisp and clear announcements about boarding trains audible throughout the waiting room, comfortable capacity for lining up at a stairway ready to board, smooth elevator-to-platform procedures for red-caps and folks in the Lounge. And convenient and easy in-station connection to the commuter rail wing, separated but easily accessible. The only downside is that the tunnel to the subway is blocked off forcing you to walk out and across the street.
Uh, Will... Quite a few Keystones terminate at 30th Street.
Indeed, what the hell is all that stupid noise about?!
That's an ADA thing for those who have a vision impairment. The only thing I'm not sure about is can one really tell if one is about to walk through the correct door or not with all the gates chattering at once.
They don't all chatter at once,
I understand ADA rules and such and deeply sympathize with blind people. However, I am sick of ADA regulations that seem to primarily provide for annoying the living hell out of me. I mean, come on. I can't imagine most blind people even being able to take advantage of all the bloody noise.
I think even a bat with ears the size of a radar dish would have an issue trying to locate a platform based on that silly noise pollution.....
If you had a need for any of the things provided for by ADA regulations, you'd be writing something entirely different here. However, it seems to me that a blind person who is traveling would either have someone with them or ask someone to help them get through the terminal and the noise of the gate announcements would probably have them bouncing off the walls as well.
Blind people, same as people with other kinds of disabilities, often travel alone. From what has been said here about CUS, you think they'd be successful getting help? As a wheelchair user, most of the help I get offered by strangers is not needed or counterproductive, and I somehow become invisible when I really do need help, like when an elevator is broken or I am lost.
Ah, true. I tend to think of them all going through to NYC, but only about half do that as a one-seat ride and the others connect to Regionals.
I have several handicaps. I have CP, a badly screwed up ankle, and I do happen to have severely impaired vision. I pray they never instate vision checks, because my vision has deteriorated enough that I doubt I'd pass driving requirements anymore. Depending on how I'm doing on a given day I range between being able to walk many miles and barely being able to walk at all. I generally go up stairs as much with my arms as my legs. I'm too stubborn to give in to it, even though it hurts like hell sometimes.
Aloha
Dontcha know its also one of the highest rates of homicide in the country?
And DC has one of the lowest crime rates overall!
h34r:
Because it's not called the City of "Fatherly Love", "Motherly Love", "Uncle Love", etc...! :lol:
Yeah they were!As GG-1 said
"Aloha
But you are the "City of Brotherly Love" bet that account for a part of the good service."
All I have to say about Philadelphia is; Were Cain and Abel brothers?
I totally agree. Although Midway has become quite shabby, the parking is great (and free) and there is usually enough room in the waiting area. The trade off with moving back to Union station may be the parking (if it happens at all). Although if it becomes more intermodal, it would be a positive move.
Except of course, when the escalator is broken and they neglect to tell you that before boarding and you either have to:
