Trains.com

Amtraks Keystone Corridor

2156 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 5:56 PM
When the PRR was in charge as far back as Broad Street stations' existance there was no charge or ticket taking on any train between any of the three Philadelphia stations. One could ride a train from New York to Chicago exit at North Philly and ride any train to 30th st. Or Broad Street. This was possible due to the large number of train choices. I would not want to stand around at North Philly for very long. It is becoming a very dangerous location And it could be a long wait.
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 12:55 PM

1.  The subway is operational but not used for revenue trips.

2.  There needs to be enough passengers on a train that are not neediing to board / get off at PHL to justify not stopping there.

3.  That would probably be at least a 9 car train that can get both enough passengers, equipment not now available, and a slot into the North river tunnels to NYP which is probably not available now at a saleable time..  

4.  There are not enough trains beyond Harrisburg to get one to bypass PHL unlike the PRR had in the past.

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • 964 posts
Posted by gardendance on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 11:37 AM

alloboard

It simply means more stops slower service. There should be shuttles from Philly to Harrisburg but trains from NYC should skip Philly for a faster service.  Besides there are way too many stops between Philly and Harrisburg. There should be express from NYC or Philly that should only stop at Paoli and Lancaster thgen Harrisburg. The whole trip is 4 hours from NYC where as NYC to Washington DC is 2:59 minutes. More people would prefer to take the train from NYC to Harrisburg if theres less stops.

 

You did not answer my 2nd question. Do you think there are enough passengers who don't want to stop in Philly to justify losing a major part of the Philadelphia business?

Now you've added more conditions, skipping other stops between Philly and Harrisburg, so I have to ask a further question. Do you think there are enough passengers who don't want to stop at the stations you're discontinuing to justify losing the passengers who use those stations?

Why do you think there's much business between the 3 stops you're retaining, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Paoli, and New York? Do you have numbers to back up eliminating all those other stops? Do you live in one of those cities? How often do you travel between them?

Patrick Boylan

Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 11:06 AM

I think 30th street is a crew change point. 

Also, probably enough passengers on each train to warrant a 30th street stop.

 

And finally, PA puts a lot of money into those trains.  They are not going to allow them to skip 30th street.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 10:23 AM

It simply means more stops slower service. There should be shuttles from Philly to Harrisburg but trains from NYC should skip Philly for a faster service.  Besides there are way too many stops between Philly and Harrisburg. There should be express from NYC or Philly that should only stop at Paoli and Lancaster then Harrisburg. The whole trip is 4 hours from NYC where as NYC to Washington DC is 2:59 minutes. More people would prefer to take the train from NYC to Harrisburg if theres less stops.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • 964 posts
Posted by gardendance on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 4:29 AM

Why? Do you think there are enough passengers who don't want to stop in Philly to justify losing a major part of the Philadelphia business?

Patrick Boylan

Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Monday, April 27, 2015 8:25 PM

Thanks all for your answers. I think the NY Pittsburg Subway should be restored back to service.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, April 25, 2015 10:54 AM

Pretty much what ndbprr wrote above.  See:

http://www.amtrak.com/keystone-service-train 

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/131/893/Keystone-Service-Schedule-020215.pdf 

As far as I know and can tell, none of the trains bypass 30th Street Station via the "Subway" at Zoo Tower (Interlocking).  All stop at 30th Street, but most do not require a change - they're single seat rides from/ to NYC ("NYP") all the way to HBG ("HAR").   

But I was surprised to see that 1 EB train does still stop at North Phila. station (train #640, 7:08 AM), and 3 WBs in the late afternoon / early evening (all Mon. - Fri. only).    

However, I didn't see anything in the Northeast Regional Schedule - 2 -  http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/141/170/Northeast-Corridor-2-Schedule-011215.pdf - nor in the reservation process from HAR to BOS (South Station) that indicated a single-seat ride to/ from Boston.  Most combinations indicate a change at Phila., but I suppose you could do it equally well or better at NYP, or someplace in between (Trenton, Princeton, Newark, etc., etc.).    

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, April 25, 2015 10:02 AM

According to Amtrak's public timtetable, all trains between New York City and Harrisburg go through the 30th Street Station; the subway is no longer used for regular movements if it is used at all.

As to the North Philadelphia station, one M-F morning train from Washington to New York and one M-F morning train from Harrisburg to New York stop at North Philadelphia to discharge and receive passengers; two afternoon trains from New York City to Harrisburg stop at North Philadelphia to discharge passengers.

It's many a year since there has been through service between Boston and points west of Philadelphia--not quite, but almost all of the years that I have been riding trains.

Johnny

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Saturday, April 25, 2015 6:02 AM
I doubt it but don't know for certain. I think North Philadelphia station has been abandoned by Amtrak due to the neighborhood. I think all trains use 30th street and the reverse direction to continue east or west. You will probably have to change trains on New York to get to Boston. the Amtrak web site should give your choices.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Amtraks Keystone Corridor
Posted by alloboard on Saturday, April 25, 2015 2:33 AM

Are there Amtrak trains that run straight from NYC to Harrisburg via Pittsburg subway bypassing 30th St station? Are ther Amtrak trains that run straight from Harrisburg to Boston?

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy