Schuylkill Valley Metro
Encyclopedia
The Schuylkill Valley Metro was a proposal for a 62-mile railway system that would link Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
with the city of Reading, Pennsylvania
in central Berks County
, USA, using the SEPTA Manayunk/Norristown Line
and Cynwyd Line
, as well as two current freight-only rights-of-way owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway
. The plan, rejected by the Federal Transit Administration
, is currently without funding, and the probability that SEPTA will ever construct it is unknown.
(PRR).
Prior to 1976, the SVM line, which was electrified between Reading Terminal and Norristown in 1933, ran parallel to the PRR's Schuylkill Branch
(which was also electrified to Norristown, in 1930 as part of the PRR's main electrification project), which connected Philadelphia, via the East-West Mainline, with Norristown, Reading, and Pottstown, Pennsylvania
. The City of Philadelphia and suburban counties began providing public funds under contract with PRR and RDG for continuation and improvement of regional rail service. Because the Reading's Norristown line was considered the stronger of the two, PRR service was cut back to Manayunk in 1960.
After both the Reading, and Penn Central, the PRR's successor company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ownership of both lines eventually passed to Conrail in 1976. Thereafter, all freight activity shifted to the SVM line. Commuter service on the former Penn Central line was extended from Manayunk to Ivy Ridge in order to serve a new park-and-ride lot, but was curtailed in 1986 to the Cynwyd station in Lower Merion Township
. SVM service to Reading, which used electric multiple-unit cars between Reading Terminal and Norristown, and diesel-electric "push-pull" cars from Norristown to Reading, continued in operation until SEPTA ceased funding in 1981, two years prior to taking over all of the electrified Philadelphia area commuter rail service.
Since its termination in 1981, the population shifted from Philadelphia itself out to the suburbs, with some residents commuting over 60 miles from Reading and its suburbs to Philadelphia on a daily basis. Although the completion of bypasses for U.S. Highway 422, U.S. Highway 202, and Interstate 76
allows travelers to reach Philadelphia without a traffic-control device, the increased number of automobiles has placed a strain on these three highways. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
, under former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, along with U.S. Congressman Jim Gerlach
of the state's 6th Congressional district, have placed pressure on the federal government to give funding for the new SVM project. No concrete plans have been approved.
In August 2006, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell announced that funding for the SVM project would not be forthcoming and that it should be considered dead. This has angered people in a Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, and a grassroots campaign apparently led to Rendell softening his "can't-do" stance: currently, he feels that combining public with private funding might contribute to the project or a scaled-down version of it. A key problem, according to Rendell, is that the downsizing of federal transit funds has made meeting the cost/benefit ratios that the Federal government wants for Federally funded projects practically impossible; thus, the need for some private-sector funding.
In December 2007, Montgomery County authorized a new study that may revive the project and scheduled public meetings. The study will look at possible funding sources. Congressman Jim Gerlach
announced in April 2011 that the results from that Montgomery County study would be soon published.
), and the former Reading's main line between Market East Station and Norristown (Manayunk/Norristown Line
), before merging on the old Reading Main Line west of the current Norristown station. A new spur, called the Cross-County Segment, would split off at Port Kennedy (near Valley Forge), and would allow SVM trains to access King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
, and the Great Valley Corporate Center in Malvern, Pennsylvania
, using the former PRR/Penn Central Trenton Cut-Off (now Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Line) used by the former PRR as a freight-only bypass around Philadelphia, although an alternative would be to have the Cross-County segment serve only King of Prussia with SEPTA extending the existing Norristown High-Speed Line to King of Prussia, via the Trenton Cut-Off.
Unlike the old SVM, which used separate electric m.u. coaches and diesel push-pull trains, the new SVM would be entirely electric, with power being supplied by Amtrak
, SEPTA, and (between Norristown and Reading) the Exelon Corporation, the successor company to the former Philadelphia Electric Company, later PECO Energy. Existing catenary wires, powered at 12 kV, 25 Hz AC, would be used on the old lines, with new high-tension catenary poles, powered at 25 kV, 60 Hz AC
, and similar to the system utilized on the Northeast Corridor
north of New Haven, Connecticut
, would be employed west of Norristown.
With the electrification of the entire line, the SVM would utilize new electrical multiple-unit (m.u.) cars known as "MetroRail" cars. Identical in appearance and operation to the new "Silverliner V" m.u. coaches SEPTA has just recently ordered from Rotem
, MetroRail cars would differ from the current Silverliner coaches in that the entire trainset (with one to four coaches) would be operated by only a motorman (much like that Norristown High Speed Line, the Market-Frankford Line
and the Broad Street Subway), but would allow operations on the heavily-traveled Keystone Corridor
(used by both Amtrak
and SEPTA for intercity and commuter service) and on the Norfolk Southern Railway
-owned freight line between Norristown and Reading in conjunction with NS rolling stock. Also, unlike the new "Silverliner V" order, the SVM MU cars would not have provisions for both high-level and low-level platform operations, mainly due to both ADA regulations and the lack of a train crew; thus requiring SEPTA to rebuild the existing platforms for SVM operations. Because the trains are operated only by a motorman, passengers wishing to board the train would purchase and validate their tickets at the station prior to boarding, a procedure similar to that on the nearby RiverLINE
system operated by New Jersey Transit
. Enforcement of regulations would be the responsibility of SEPTA Transit Police between Philadelphia and Norristown, and by Pennsylvania State Police
between Norristown and Reading.
SVM Main Line (Philadelphia-Reading)
SVM Cross-County Segment (Philadelphia-Great Valley)
Planners intended to operate trains at 15-minute intervals during peak travel times, Mondays to Fridays, and at 30-minute intervals at all other times. Norfolk Southern Railway trains would have been able to use most of the system at all hours, but would have been restricted to overnight movements at some locations after SVM ceased operations at night between Midnight and 6 a.m.
for the original plan, the Montgomery County Planning Commission initiated the R6 Extension Study (later called the Norristown Extension) as an alternative approach. This study would likely utilize conventional commuter equipment in shared operations with freight trains. Unlike the SVM, the R6 Extension Study would only see electrification extended as far as King of Prussia (with SEPTA extending the Norristown High Speed Service as mentioned above) and no major reconstruction of any platforms. Any service west of King of Prussia would require new construction and the purchasing of extra push-pull consists hauled by hybrid
locomotives similar to those on order by NJ Transit for its proposed Trans-Hudson Express (THE) Tunnel service to and from New York Penn Station. Funding for the R6 Extension Study would be provided by revenue made by a proposed plan to toll U.S. Route 422
between Pottstown and King of Prussia.
and Phoenixville
via a new connection at the current Paoli/Thorndale Line
at Paoli Station
.
Regional Citizens Committee, Pawson stated the following:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
with the city of Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
in central Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, USA, using the SEPTA Manayunk/Norristown Line
Manayunk/Norristown Line
The Manayunk/Norristown Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to the Elm Street station in Norristown, Montgomery County.-Route:...
and Cynwyd Line
Cynwyd Line
The Cynwyd Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Cynwyd in Montgomery County.Originally known as the Ivy Ridge Branch, service was truncated on October 25, 1986 from Ivy Ridge to its current terminus at Cynwyd....
, as well as two current freight-only rights-of-way owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. The plan, rejected by the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
, is currently without funding, and the probability that SEPTA will ever construct it is unknown.
History
The Schuylkill Valley Metro (SVM) has its roots in the old Philadelphia/Germantown/Norristown railroad in the early 19th century, which later became the Reading Railroad. The line served as a long-distance passenger and freight line between Philadelphia, Reading, and Harrisburg, nearly paralleling the old Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad—later incorporated as the main east-west line of the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR).
Prior to 1976, the SVM line, which was electrified between Reading Terminal and Norristown in 1933, ran parallel to the PRR's Schuylkill Branch
Schuylkill Branch
The Schuylkill Branch was a rail line owned and operated by the former Pennsylvania Railroad in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line ran from the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line at 52nd Street in Philadelphia north via Norristown, Reading, and Pottsville to Delano Junction...
(which was also electrified to Norristown, in 1930 as part of the PRR's main electrification project), which connected Philadelphia, via the East-West Mainline, with Norristown, Reading, and Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
. The City of Philadelphia and suburban counties began providing public funds under contract with PRR and RDG for continuation and improvement of regional rail service. Because the Reading's Norristown line was considered the stronger of the two, PRR service was cut back to Manayunk in 1960.
After both the Reading, and Penn Central, the PRR's successor company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ownership of both lines eventually passed to Conrail in 1976. Thereafter, all freight activity shifted to the SVM line. Commuter service on the former Penn Central line was extended from Manayunk to Ivy Ridge in order to serve a new park-and-ride lot, but was curtailed in 1986 to the Cynwyd station in Lower Merion Township
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825...
. SVM service to Reading, which used electric multiple-unit cars between Reading Terminal and Norristown, and diesel-electric "push-pull" cars from Norristown to Reading, continued in operation until SEPTA ceased funding in 1981, two years prior to taking over all of the electrified Philadelphia area commuter rail service.
Since its termination in 1981, the population shifted from Philadelphia itself out to the suburbs, with some residents commuting over 60 miles from Reading and its suburbs to Philadelphia on a daily basis. Although the completion of bypasses for U.S. Highway 422, U.S. Highway 202, and Interstate 76
Interstate 76 (east)
Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
allows travelers to reach Philadelphia without a traffic-control device, the increased number of automobiles has placed a strain on these three highways. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is the metropolitan planning organization for the Delaware Valley. Created in 1965 by an interstate compact, DVRPC is responsible for transportation and regional planning in the greater Philadelphia area.-History:The first evidence of regional...
, under former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, along with U.S. Congressman Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
of the state's 6th Congressional district, have placed pressure on the federal government to give funding for the new SVM project. No concrete plans have been approved.
In August 2006, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell announced that funding for the SVM project would not be forthcoming and that it should be considered dead. This has angered people in a Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, and a grassroots campaign apparently led to Rendell softening his "can't-do" stance: currently, he feels that combining public with private funding might contribute to the project or a scaled-down version of it. A key problem, according to Rendell, is that the downsizing of federal transit funds has made meeting the cost/benefit ratios that the Federal government wants for Federally funded projects practically impossible; thus, the need for some private-sector funding.
In December 2007, Montgomery County authorized a new study that may revive the project and scheduled public meetings. The study will look at possible funding sources. Congressman Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
announced in April 2011 that the results from that Montgomery County study would be soon published.
Physical description
The new SVM system, while identical in many ways to the old SVM line from the Reading days, would be completely different in many aspects. First, the line would use both sides of the former SEPTA R6 lines; the former PRR Schuylkill Branch between Suburban Station and Ivy Ridge (Cynwyd LineCynwyd Line
The Cynwyd Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Cynwyd in Montgomery County.Originally known as the Ivy Ridge Branch, service was truncated on October 25, 1986 from Ivy Ridge to its current terminus at Cynwyd....
), and the former Reading's main line between Market East Station and Norristown (Manayunk/Norristown Line
Manayunk/Norristown Line
The Manayunk/Norristown Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to the Elm Street station in Norristown, Montgomery County.-Route:...
), before merging on the old Reading Main Line west of the current Norristown station. A new spur, called the Cross-County Segment, would split off at Port Kennedy (near Valley Forge), and would allow SVM trains to access King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, and the Great Valley Corporate Center in Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census. The main road through the borough is King Street, although the borough is also bordered by Paoli Pike on the south, and is near US 30 on the north. The primary cross street is Warren...
, using the former PRR/Penn Central Trenton Cut-Off (now Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Line) used by the former PRR as a freight-only bypass around Philadelphia, although an alternative would be to have the Cross-County segment serve only King of Prussia with SEPTA extending the existing Norristown High-Speed Line to King of Prussia, via the Trenton Cut-Off.
Unlike the old SVM, which used separate electric m.u. coaches and diesel push-pull trains, the new SVM would be entirely electric, with power being supplied by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, SEPTA, and (between Norristown and Reading) the Exelon Corporation, the successor company to the former Philadelphia Electric Company, later PECO Energy. Existing catenary wires, powered at 12 kV, 25 Hz AC, would be used on the old lines, with new high-tension catenary poles, powered at 25 kV, 60 Hz AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
, and similar to the system utilized on the Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
north of New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, would be employed west of Norristown.
With the electrification of the entire line, the SVM would utilize new electrical multiple-unit (m.u.) cars known as "MetroRail" cars. Identical in appearance and operation to the new "Silverliner V" m.u. coaches SEPTA has just recently ordered from Rotem
Rotem
Hyundai Rotem is a South Korean company manufacturing rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment. It is part of the Hyundai Motor Group...
, MetroRail cars would differ from the current Silverliner coaches in that the entire trainset (with one to four coaches) would be operated by only a motorman (much like that Norristown High Speed Line, the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
and the Broad Street Subway), but would allow operations on the heavily-traveled Keystone Corridor
Keystone Corridor
The Keystone Corridor is a Federal Railroad Administration "designated high speed corridor" with a 349-mile railroad line between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a top speed of...
(used by both Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and SEPTA for intercity and commuter service) and on the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
-owned freight line between Norristown and Reading in conjunction with NS rolling stock. Also, unlike the new "Silverliner V" order, the SVM MU cars would not have provisions for both high-level and low-level platform operations, mainly due to both ADA regulations and the lack of a train crew; thus requiring SEPTA to rebuild the existing platforms for SVM operations. Because the trains are operated only by a motorman, passengers wishing to board the train would purchase and validate their tickets at the station prior to boarding, a procedure similar to that on the nearby RiverLINE
River Line (New Jersey Transit)
The River Line is a diesel light rail system in New Jersey, United States, that connects the cities of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey's capital. It is operated for New Jersey Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group , which originally included Bechtel Group and Bombardier...
system operated by New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
. Enforcement of regulations would be the responsibility of SEPTA Transit Police between Philadelphia and Norristown, and by Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
between Norristown and Reading.
Stations
The SVM plans included stations currently used by SEPTA, along with new stations north of Norristown. As the SVM cars would only have motormen, and to allow compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, all existing and new stations would be built with high-level platforms. The stations are as follows:SVM Main Line (Philadelphia-Reading)
- Market East Station
- Suburban Station
- 30th Street Station30th Street Station30th Street Station is the main railroad station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the five stations in SEPTA's Center City fare zone. It is also a major stop on Amtrak's Northeast and Keystone Corridors...
- 52nd Street52nd Street (Pennsylvania Railroad station)52nd Street is a closed railroad station in the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at the junction of its Main Line and its Schuylkill Branch...
- Wynnefield
- Bala
- Cynwyd
- Manayunk (upper)
- Ivy Ridge (upper)
- ConshohockenConshohocken (SEPTA station)Conshohocken is a station located along the SEPTA Manayunk/Norristown Line. The station, located at Washington and Harry Streets in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, includes a 95-space parking lot...
- Norristown Transportation CenterNorristown Transportation CenterNorristown Transportation Center is a two-level multimodal public transportation regional hub located in Norristown, Pennsylvania and operated by SEPTA...
- Port Kennedy (lower)
- Phoenixville
- Royersford
- Limerick (Township)
- Pottstown
- Exeter (Township)
- Reading
- VF Factory Outlet
- Wyomissing
SVM Cross-County Segment (Philadelphia-Great Valley)
- 30th Street Station
- Suburban Station
- Market East Station
- Temple University
- North Broad Street
- Allegheny
- Manayunk (lower)
- Ivy Ridge (lower)
- Miquon
- Conshohoken
- Norristown Transportation Center
- Port Kennedy (upper)
- King of Prussia (at Court & Plaza mall complexes)
- Cassett Road
- Great Valley (near Great Valley Corporate Center)
- Glenloch (near Exton)
Planners intended to operate trains at 15-minute intervals during peak travel times, Mondays to Fridays, and at 30-minute intervals at all other times. Norfolk Southern Railway trains would have been able to use most of the system at all hours, but would have been restricted to overnight movements at some locations after SVM ceased operations at night between Midnight and 6 a.m.
Norristown Extension
After a rating of "Not Recommended" by the FTAFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
for the original plan, the Montgomery County Planning Commission initiated the R6 Extension Study (later called the Norristown Extension) as an alternative approach. This study would likely utilize conventional commuter equipment in shared operations with freight trains. Unlike the SVM, the R6 Extension Study would only see electrification extended as far as King of Prussia (with SEPTA extending the Norristown High Speed Service as mentioned above) and no major reconstruction of any platforms. Any service west of King of Prussia would require new construction and the purchasing of extra push-pull consists hauled by hybrid
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
locomotives similar to those on order by NJ Transit for its proposed Trans-Hudson Express (THE) Tunnel service to and from New York Penn Station. Funding for the R6 Extension Study would be provided by revenue made by a proposed plan to toll U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422 is a long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western spur begins in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania...
between Pottstown and King of Prussia.
Greenline
Another alternate approach, officially known as the Greenline, proposes to serve the towns of OaksOaks, Pennsylvania
Oaks is a village located in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Its boundaries are defined in large part by the village's position at the junction of Perkiomen Creek and the Schuylkill River.-History:The two waterways defined much of the...
and Phoenixville
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
via a new connection at the current Paoli/Thorndale Line
Paoli/Thorndale Line
The Paoli/Thorndale Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Thorndale in Chester County.-Route:This branch utilizes one of the oldest sections of what is now Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, an electrified 104-mile two to four-track high-speed route between Harrisburg...
at Paoli Station
Paoli (SEPTA station)
Paoli Station is a commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at13 Lancaster Avenue , Paoli, Pennsylvania. It is served by Amtrak's Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian trains, and most Paoli/Thorndale Line trains. The station has a waiting room and a coffee shop.The SEPTA...
.
Criticism
Noted transit expert John Pawson, author of Delaware Valley Rails: The Railroads and Rail Transit Lines of the Philadelphia Area, made a pointed argument as to why the SVM has continually been pushed by elected officials given its many obstalces. In a November 2010 communication sent to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning CommissionDelaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is the metropolitan planning organization for the Delaware Valley. Created in 1965 by an interstate compact, DVRPC is responsible for transportation and regional planning in the greater Philadelphia area.-History:The first evidence of regional...
Regional Citizens Committee, Pawson stated the following: