So I guess people don't research before they move if there is any public transit like trains in their area if they will need to get to their job. But then most people are probably ignorant of railroads, except when they take their kids on a train ride somewhere like Strasburg, etc. For most people, crime rates and schools are the most important things when choosing an area to live. Railroads, active or not are probably down on the list. But those people would complain if a rail line gets re activated for heavy freight trains right by their house, or a new highway is built nearby. Anything that affects their quality of life or the value of their home will cause them to complain. It is also a crying shame that SEPTA is destroying the link between the Lehigh Valley and Philly by ripping up old tracks north of Quakertown, we no longer have any train service in Allentown area since Conrail/SEPTA left Allentown in Sept 1979 and Bethlehem on June 30, 1981. The Lehigh County planners think that buses to Philly are enough. My aunt and uncle have lived in Newtown since 1979, Delaware 2 years before that, and Allentown. My mom's sister and husband. They lost train service in Jan 1983 before the big SEPTA strike that was a result of the transition from Conrail to SEPTA operation of the regional rails, service was out until July 1983 on the electric lines because of the strike. But, my aunt and uncle have a train a few miles away in Woodbourne. My uncle used to take Amtrak from Trenton to NY in the 1980's and some of the 90's for financial jobs in NY, now he works closer to home in NJ and drives to work. Less stressful. I guess losing the Newtown line is no big deal when there are nearby rail lines with train service like the West Trenton line. But, for my area we have to drive 30 miles south on 309 to the nearest rail station because the dimwits at SEPTA have no interest in diesel train service or building new electrification on non electric lines which means that the former diesel lines can't have any commuter train service if SEPTA won't run diesel service or build new catenary to run the Silverliners. Also, could they even run trains outside their service area to Bethlehem or Reading? It was different when PennDOT funded the service and Conrail crews ran it. Could NJT extend from High Bridge to Allentown? They do run into Philly, so there are NJT trains that run into PA. NJT runs diesel trains unlike SEPTA, and now they have dual modes to run into NY from diesel lines. That would be the answer for Quakertown to 30th St. service. The issue with passenger trains in Allentown, Bethlehem now is that the only rail lines available are NS freight lines, except a spur in Allentown which was the old LV passenger main. The LV freight line through Allentown is being ripped up for a trail I believe. NS recently said that they have no capacity for commuter trains on their lines through the Lehigh Valley. The Phillipsburg, NJ area now has just one track on the Lehigh Line for all rail traffic. But, NJT could extend from Hackettstown to Phillipsburg, the line sees very little freight traffic. But, the Pburg station is a bad location for a station, limited parking, steep steps down to the tracks, no handicap access.