Reading, Newtown, Quakertown restoration

[BuddCar711]

I was just looking at the crossing area on google earth. There isn't enough space to put a bridge with an acceptable grade. It would be a massive project to lower the ROW enough far enough back etc etc. You could put the bridge piers on the existing right of way through the wetlands, but to the south there's just no room without the huge project. Diamond is way cheaper.

Well how about severing the R3 between Meadowbrook and Bethayres, and connect the R8 from Fox Chase to Bethayres and connect the R3 from Meadowbrook to Walnut Hill.

[nickrapak]

I was just looking at the crossing area on google earth. There isn't enough space to put a bridge with an acceptable grade. It would be a massive project to lower the ROW enough far enough back etc etc. You could put the bridge piers on the existing right of way through the wetlands, but to the south there's just no room without the huge project. Diamond is way cheaper.

Well how about severing the R3 between Meadowbrook and Bethayres, and connect the R8 from Fox Chase to Bethayres and connect the R3 from Meadowbrook to Walnut Hill.

What purpose would that serve? You'd be forcing a high-ridership line (Bethayres-West Trenton) to a single track, while allowing a line that would be nowhere near the ridership to have a double tracked main for half its distance. Besides, you'd still have to build turnouts, crossovers, etc. It'd be cheaper to build a diamond!

[scotty269]

http://www.pennypacktrust.org

[nickrapak]

http://www.pennypacktrust.org

Yes, but if you're forcing the West Trenton-Bethayres line down to Fox Chase, they'd lose their precious trail anyway.

[ChrisinAbington]

None of Pennypack's trails are on the railroad right of way. (and I'd recommend them to anybody, they are quite scenic!) The only present trail that would be an issue is the Montgomery County leased one..
Pennypack Trust is all about the watershed though. If someone messed with the streambed or the wetlands with a new project, Pennypack would be the ones opening litigation. I do not know their opinion towards the reactivation of the railroad though.

[bikentransit]

They'd probably be cold to the whole idea. Opening up the HV station as a spur off the R3 makes sense. Its a turnout or two, s.e.p.t.a. could store trains there overnight, and could provide some additional service to the stations between there and Noble, and if its bigger than Bethayres, maybe even close/consolidate that into a single stop.

Is there really a need for train service north of Bethayres though? SEPTA says no one will ride the train, and an R8 will just siphon off riders. Why not do more buses that feed the other lines? Or build more parking? Armchair-ing aside (and they're all great comments), why not a mega-station in Warminster? Or a bigger Trevose? Does anyone in Newtown even go to Philly?

[trackwelder]

Does anyone in Newtown even go to Philly?

lot's of people in Newtown do, as well as richboro. that entire area is one big bedroom community, and from 630 in the morning onward, the roads leading towards the city line are a mess.