Septa rail service as first impression

Well, as much as I hate to defend Septa, I must say that the train to PHL is one of the best things they have. It IS advertised clearly in the airport; not only do they have signs everywhere saying "train to central Phila," but it is also all over TV monitors throughout each terminal. It even tells what time the train leaves each terminal. Not frequently enough, but you can't say they don't try.

SIIs and SIIIs are an embarrassment to the city. They spew out PCBs, they are hideously ugly, unconfortable, and generally dirty. Those flashing fluorescent lights are like Chinese water torture. Those cars would be put to better use as coral reefs. The R1 should use exclusively IVs or those refurbished cars that seem to have disappeared.

And while bathrooms are nice, I don't think they are really necessary for a 22 minute ride to CC.

Bathrooms are not necessary on any of SEPTA's routes. Although an argument can be made for some of the longer routes, the way SEPTA shifts equipment, it would make it impossible to keep bathroom equipped trains on those lines, and outfitting the entire fleet with bathrooms is unreasonable.

Philadelphia was one of the first cities to propose a rail line to the airport. But it made the mistake of using the regional rail. Septa should have extended the Broad Street Subway to the airport. If Septa wanted to charge more money for the Airport stop, there could have been a step-up fare of an additional $2.00, paid as an exit fare or entry fare at the airport. Boston uses step up fares on some of it's extended T lines.

The trains would run with greater frequency, make easy connection in Center City, similar to Chicago's EL to O'Hare.