ChrisinAbington wrote:drinkatoast wrote:I'm convinced by the informed operational posts I've seen here that it wouldn't be feasible to run Gloucester Co. trains over PATCO into Center City. Surprising since the orig PATCO plan was for 3 branches all combining at Camden & running into the subway, but I guess real-world testing proved that not possible. In any case I hope the if a Gloucester Co. DMU line does get built it has the capacity, as I mentioned in previous post, to handle much higher patronage than the RiverLine. Gloucester Co. - Phila. is a MAJOR commuter corridor unlike Trenton - Burlington - Phila.
Potentially it might not be that difficult to run PATCO up the Ridge Avenue Spur if severed connections were restored. There's some capacity for you although not much of Center City would be affected. Obviously jurisdictional issues would need to be addressed. People looking to go to Locust could transfer at Franklin Square.
It's my stark opinion that either both the BRS and PATCO needs to run all the way to 16th and Locust, or just the Spur. PATCO going to the end is great, but because it's a separate entity from SEPTA, it discourages Philly residents from using it (which is a shame, because it goes to a lot of popular destinations). Since the City owns the tunnels, they could just not renew the lease with PATCO.
PATCO should, in all seriousness, be treated like the PATH of Philadelphia. Have it work on the same faring system as SEPTA, and have it just be a way to get into Jersey from the city, not to get around Philadelphia. This would allow for the BRS to actually maybe get a few riders, which could then justify an extension or even (and I am being VERY optimistic here) a construction of the full loop.