awhile ago i asked about new amtrak cwr philly - paoli
but got no response. i was at paoli station as few days ago
and mow train was passing toward harrisburg with a load
of concrete ties. can anyone supply an approx
timetable of the work, how much has been completed.
where work is presently being done, etc.
with amtrak shortage of funds and not that much traffic
on the mainline, why are the outside (Septa) tracjks
being upgraded to cwr at this time?
I hate to give an answer that may be perceived as flippant, but it could be because the funds for this project had already been allocated (I’ve been hearing about it for years), and because the track really needs it.
It makes sense from out here that Philly-Paoli would get new CWR. I’m sure that SEPTA runs a substantial service on this line and this is the probable reason for the work.
The Pennsylvania govt / who ever is in charge of transportation a while back (a year) announced a modernization of the Harrisburg-Philadelphia line with faster electric trains with more frequent service between the capital and the pa’s largest city. Its going to take about a year to complete the project. The ties aare most likely going to be used for this project.
This line between Phila. Paoli and Harrisburg is call the Main line. SEPTA runs a good number of trains on this line. People in the Harrisburg area uses it to go to Philadelphia and New York. So work of the line is well needed.
I was at the Lancaster, PA station last week. They’re doing some track work there and installing concrete ties. I saw a Phili-Harrisburg local pull in during the afternoon. What a sad sight. 12 minutes late, dirty, two cars and a huge engine, burbling away. All that wire and not one piece of electric equipment running.
Mitch
The intent is to use AEM7’s and run through to downtown Phila, Market East or at least Broad Street, not just 30th St. There is also the possibility that SEPTA would take over the complete operation from Amtrak and run MU equipment. (This line was the last place the old original Metroliners ran, and for a while Amtrak did lease SEPTA mu cars. I rode this service back then.) Hopefully if Septa did run mu’s and they do have some AEM-7’s or similar electric locomotives, also, they would upgrade the MU’s to have some snack car service on the appropriate runs. But even the present Amfleet or whatever Amtrak trains often lack any food or beverage service. In any case, the intent is to restore electric operation of the Phila-Harrisburg trains.
The through trains will continue to change power in Philadelphia because it saves time. Otherwise there would be two engine changes since the through trains reverse direction in Philadelphia.
Of course if we ever saw an electrification to Pittsburgh… Don’t hold your breath!
I rode Septa on this line Phila-Paoli in February. Glad to hear funds allocated for track replacement. Variety of naeighborhoods, from suburbia to rowhouses…