Optimism swirls around talks of restoring Reading-to-Philly passenger train service

READING, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Reading-to-Philadelphia passenger rail has become the white whale of transportation, and it’s been under discussion for decades since service ended in 1981.

But on Friday, during the most recent stop of the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee’s state tour in Reading, there was some optimistic news to share.

“This is different,” said Tom Frawley, the director of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority. “None of these projects got as far as this one has, and the funding that's been provided and the funding that continues to be available in the context of a project that is affordable… Those are all positive.”

Frawley said financial backing from the Federal Railroad Administration is helping the planning phase for the revived passenger rail, which would use an already operating freight line between Reading and Philly.

Norfolk Southern, which owns and operates the existing freight line, is also open to discussion, which significantly reduces costs.

“We want Norfolk Southern to view us as another customer,” Frawley said. “This is a business relationship. You know, we're going to pay for access, pay for capacity on their railroad, and they've been very responsive to that.”

The project also has unanimous backing from Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery county commissioners.

Frawley said there are a lot of pieces that still need to fall into place, but the line would have stops in Pottstown and Phoenixville, and start with about six daily round trips with hopes of eventually expanding to 10 daily trips. He said the fee structure and operation would be similar to Amtrak’s Keystone Line, which runs from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and New York City.

Asked if there would be enough interest to support the line, Frawley said ridership studies would be done in the next planning phase.

“Looking at the automobile traffic in the corridor currently on the highway, on US-422, we anticipate that there's going to be very, very positive response,” he said.

He wouldn’t commit to a date when service could begin but said a five-year timeline is now realistic.