philipmartin wrote:Can NJT legally operate passenger carrying trains in Pennsylvania between Trenton and Philadelphia, in direct competition with SEPTA?
The idea of SEPTA not operating trains east of Levittown sounds crazy to me.
River Line: who wants to get off in Camden and cross the Delaware River like George Washington; or get off in Pennsauken, and grab an Atlantic City Line train?
PM: (and Everyone:)
1-Special NJT service through to Philadelphia 30th Street Station will not compete in any way with SEPTA RRD
on the Papal Visit weekend - these trains would be for NEC riders from Trenton on north and make NO intermediate
stops in between...Yes - SEPTA RRD serving Cornwells Heights, Croydon and Levittown only is significant for the
Papal Visit weekend - Levittown was actually not on the original Trenton Line RRD service plan...
2-The River Line's biggest drawback is the forced transfer either at Camden or Pennsauken to PATCO and ACL
trains...Depending on how ACL service operates the transfer at Pennsauken could work - it all depends on how
crowded any through ACL trains become...PATCO's limitations are again crowded trains going west from WRTC
and again the requirement of having a Freedom Card to ride...I still think that ferry service across the Delaware
River to Penn's Landing can be a decent option as compared to having to walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge
which more then likely will be closed to vehicles - only PATCO will be operating over it to 9-10 and Locust...
3-NJT is obviously taking a "wait and see" approach to what options they will provide on the Papal Visit weekend
and I feel that this can be good noting how many revisions and changes have taken place already and with more
to come this could make NJT service provided an even better option for anyone interested...NJT will also have to
plan for the NYC Papal Visit day of Friday September 25th...The Papal Mass scheduled for 6 PM at Madison Sq.
Garden brings itself its own set of challenges for anyone traveling in and out of Penn Station on that day - to me
the timing of that event - on a getaway Friday no less with the huge events scheduled in Philadelphia on the next
two days is going to have the potential of creating significant travel problems for NJT Rail riders those three days...
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS