Cape May - Philly Rail Service (Camden, Vineland: employment, transfer to, university)

[jknic]

What do you think of a commuter rail service that originates in 30th Street Station, goes to Camden where one can transfer to the Patco Speedline, then goes south through Woodbury, Rowan University in Glassboro, Vineland, Millville, Woodbine, Capemay Court House, and finnaly, terminates in Cape May. The line has transfers available to shuttle busses (or Light rail, street cars, some kind of transfer vehicle) to the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, Wildwood, Sea Isle City, and Avalon.

[Gerania]

There used to be, like a lot of other places I suppose, train service in many S Jersey towns, the shore points. It's a shame that there isn't now. I'd take the train to cape May.

Cape May Seashore Lines - Home

The Blue Comet

[jknic]

anyone?

[pcity]

I don't think it would get many riders. Not that many commuters from Cape May to Philly.

[VeradoDan]

And even for tourists, there's a reason they all drive. Nobody wants to pack a car full of clothes, linens, beach toys etc. and transfer it all to a train to head to Cape May. Plus, how are you going to get around once you get there?

The train to "the shore" is pretty much only good for NYC/Hoboken yuppies who want to go to Sea Girt and Manasquan.

[Lusitan]

Originally Posted by jknic

What do you think of a commuter rail service that originates in 30th Street Station, goes to Camden where one can transfer to the Patco Speedline, then goes south through Woodbury, Rowan University in Glassboro, Vineland, Millville, Woodbine, Capemay Court House, and finnaly, terminates in Cape May. The line has transfers available to shuttle busses (or Light rail, street cars, some kind of transfer vehicle) to the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, Wildwood, Sea Isle City, and Avalon.

I think it'd be cool, and I'm sure some people would use it to live in Avalon and commute to Philly every day (after all, people live in PA and commute to NYC every day!). But I doubt it would be viable at this time, given we're already struggling to fund the existing rail lines that have much more use in the North Jersey area.

[Professor Griff]

It might not get much ridership once it gets outside of Glassboro, but it could still benefit those who want to take a daytrip to Cape May from Philly or Camden/Gloucester counties. It would also benefit, and possibly open up more opportunities,for people from Millville, Vineland, and south who might be looking for or have employment in Glassboro, Woodbury, and other points north.

[hollygolightly]

I know there are those that commute from Millville area to Cape May area (or vice versa) so I do think that the ridership between the two areas would be relatively good. And between Cape May and CMCH would be excellent for local commuters. All in all, this is a fantastic idea and I would definitely make use of it often. Is this just wishful thinking???

[pcity]

Originally Posted by VeradoDan

Plus, how are you going to get around once you get there?

Well, if it somehow caught on, there'd be demand for buses around the shore destinations, kind of like the "Jolly Trolley" in Delaware's Rehoboth/Dewey resort towns.

But I agree with your first point- families with cars are not going to take the train to the shore. Most of the time, families can barely fit their shore stuff in their car. Carrying at all on the train? Forget it. I think one reason people prefer the shore as opposed to say, flying to Florida, is that they don't have to pack light.

Plus, in general, I think you have to evaluate commuter rail based on on commuters, not vacationers. Even if you could convince vacationers to use this "Cape May" line, and it were packed every single summer weekend, it still would be wasteful overall because no one would use it during the week.

[jknic]

Originally Posted by hollygolightly

I know there are those that commute from Millville area to Cape May area (or vice versa) so I do think that the ridership between the two areas would be relatively good. And between Cape May and CMCH would be excellent for local commuters. All in all, this is a fantastic idea and I would definitely make use of it often. Is this just wishful thinking???

This is actually more what I was thinking of. South of Glassboro, most people don't commute to Philly. However, people South of Glassboro do commute to/from towns along the old ROW along the line. Personally, I think it should at least go to Millville from Philly. The Millville to Cape May segment would probably see less service, and overall I think most people who ride it to the beach, would probably be comming for the day from one of the stops in Jersey.


Also, who ever said that this would encoure bus service, I think your right.