On Track On Line Forums > Rep. Murphy: More Amtrak service for Bucks County, PA

KevinKorell

Jun 12 2008, 08:09 AM

From Philadelphia, PA Inquirer, 6/12/08:

QUOTE

With highways clogged and gas prices soaring, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.) sees Amtrak as a commuting option for his Bucks County constituents who work in New York.
Amtrak, however, does not share Murphy's view.

The financially strapped national railroad sees its limited Northeast Corridor seats as best utilized by full-fare spot travelers, not daily commuters paying discounted monthly rates.

Read more about this here.

I wonder why the good Congressman does not have a chat with the PA DOT and have them request Amtrak to add Cornwell's Heights as a stop to the multitude of Keystone trains that run by underutilized on the NEC today, instead of raising a ruckus in Congress.

I think it would be a nmistake to try to add this as a stop for through NEC trains.

nova08

Jun 12 2008, 11:06 PM

Cornwell Heights is barely in Bucks County. For anyone deeper into the county and up in the New Hope/Yardley area its probably quicker for them to drive into Trenton to catch a train. Not to mention the many more options from Trenton

KevinKorell

Jun 12 2008, 11:19 PM

QUOTE(nova08 @ Jun 13 2008, 12:06 AM)

Cornwell Heights is barely in Bucks County. For anyone deeper into the county and up in the New Hope/Yardley area its probably quicker for them to drive into Trenton to catch a train. Not to mention the many more options from Trenton

A lot of Pennsylvanians who used to drive to Trenton now drive to Hamilton to catch NJT trains, since that stations is right off I-295, which continues from I-95.

nova08

Jun 17 2008, 09:58 PM

QUOTE(KevinKorell @ Jun 13 2008, 12:19 AM)

A lot of Pennsylvanians who used to drive to Trenton now drive to Hamilton to catch NJT trains, since that stations is right off I-295, which continues from I-95.

Yea you know many people from Jersey do the same. My dad used to take Amtrak either from Philadelphia or Trenton up to New York, now 90% of the time he takes express NJT trains from Hamilton

KevinKorell

Jun 17 2008, 10:47 PM

I know that there is a fairly large Bucks County-New York City market, but it's odd that there apparently is little need for travel between Bucks County and Wilmington-Baltimore-Washington.

It's been a while since I have observed the Cornwells Heights station, and things may have improved recently during this current fuel crisis, but I do recall seeing the lots underutilized and thus little if any need for the shuttle buses they make available to serve the furthest parking spots from the station platform.

Perhaps more Amtrak trains stopping there would change that. On the other hand, having Northeast Regionals make the stop adds to the overall trip time for through passengers.