Back in January, we mentioned that Montgomery County was interested in starting up a very scaled back version of the Schuylkill Valley Metro. Now, we found more details about the project.
The Montgomery Country task force is now studying the feasibility of running a diesel shuttle train from Norristown Transportation Center to Wyomissing, via Reading. Of course, with the use of a diesel engine, passengers would have to transfer at the transportation center from R6 trains coming from Center City. They started meeting back in September and hope to come to a conclusion in June, when public hearings will be held.
The consulting agency behind this project is DJHM of Philadelphia. Their task: to keep the project as simple as possible.
This means no direct service to Philadelphia via Lower Merion, keeping it a diesel line, and making limited stops in Norristown, Port Kennedy, Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown, Monocacy, Reading and Wyomissing. Service would also be hourly or bihourly, with half hourly service possible during peak travel times. Also, this means that the project will no longer carry the name Schuylkill Valley Metro, since it has a connotation that is definitely not what the task force envisions for this project. It will simply be known as the R6 Extension.
Representatives in this project include:
- Montgomery County (the leader)
- Chester and Berks County Reps.
- SEPTA
- BARTA
- Norfolk Southern, who may be interested in operating the trains
- Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Authority
- Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
- PennDOT, an active observer
This news comes to us from PottsMerc.com by way of this thread on railroad.net.