Does the regional rail lines work a bit like the BART and DC metro? (Philadelphia: real estate, houses)

[OyCrumbler]

I've become really interested in Philadelphia lately, and I'd like to know if the regional rail there, where separate lines combine in the city and run on the same track, become frequent enough to serve as more of a traditional in-city transit system. Both the BART in SF and Oakland as well as the DC metro within DC itself basically function like that while outside those cities they function as more standard commuter rail.

If Philly doesn't currently do this, does it seem like it could implement this pretty easily (such as adding more stations where more than one line is served in the city)?

[DarkWolf]

Why would Philly want to do that? The Regional Rail system is separate then the inner City system. On a sad note Septa's Backwards ness has resulted in the closing of 153 Regional Rail stations and about 5 inner city lines. On a Happy Note Septa hopes to restore at least 140 stations and 3 inner city lines , but this is septa were talking about.

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

.... On a sad note Septa's Backwards ness has resulted in the closing of 153 Regional Rail stations and about 5 inner city lines. On a Happy Note Septa hopes to restore at least 140 stations and 3 inner city lines...

That's very old news. Like ten + years old. Unless we all completely missed some recent major announcement.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by PeeAye Native

That's very old news. Like ten + years old. Unless we all completely missed some recent major announcement.

Whats old news?

[JasmineFlower]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I've become really interested in Philadelphia lately, and I'd like to know if the regional rail there, where separate lines combine in the city and run on the same track, become frequent enough to serve as more of a traditional in-city transit system. Both the BART in SF and Oakland as well as the DC metro within DC itself basically function like that while outside those cities they function as more standard commuter rail.

If Philly doesn't currently do this, does it seem like it could implement this pretty easily (such as adding more stations where more than one line is served in the city)?

There are other rail options in Philadelphia than Regional Rail. Think of it as being more similar to Chicago with the L and Metra. There's already in-city transit. Sure, you can take RR to get a few places within the city, but you are more likely to take the subway or the trolleys (light rail).

No idea what the other poster is talking about, closing 153 stations would mean that Regional Rail has closed down completely and I think we would have heard about it...

[kidphilly]

Septa does both a good job and bad job, though most of the reginal rail is servicing the fringe of the city proper and moreso the suburbs, of which certain areas are covered much better. The one good thing the regional rail does is combine all thru traffic into the core and all regional rail line converge in the core with 3 main stops that provide great access to the downtown core (30th Street, Suburban Station, and Market East) Also there is limited subway service that does ok where it goes but is lacking in some areas. 30th street links with Amtrak, NJT, and subway surface lines. Suburban links with Subway lines and subway surface lines, Walnut Street links with PATCO. There are also some light rail lines that connect with the Subway at 69th Street terminal at the border of Philadelphia and Upper Darby and Septa regional rail at the norristown Station

Here is map though this is hard to see exactly how it aligns with the city and burbs

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I've become really interested in Philadelphia lately, and I'd like to know if the regional rail there, where separate lines combine in the city and run on the same track, become frequent enough to serve as more of a traditional in-city transit system. Both the BART in SF and Oakland as well as the DC metro within DC itself basically function like that while outside those cities they function as more standard commuter rail.

If Philly doesn't currently do this, does it seem like it could implement this pretty easily (such as adding more stations where more than one line is served in the city)?

Also to further answer your question, although there is some aged infrastructure and old stops, much of where the regional runs together is close to area already served subway lines (maybe was original through-ways, not sure), I actually think Philly could do a little better with some additional intercity stops to capatilize on the existing infrastructure but would likely be better served with additional rail options (more subway like) to poorer served inter city areas. Or even light-rail/trolleys. I often thought it would be great for a loop trolley that would run around the core and give better rail options to places like Pennsport, Queen Village, Deleware Ave (Think they call it Columbus Blvd now but will always De Ave to me) Vine and/or Girard and into the Art Musuem area - then maybe some feeder lines extending into South Philly, NE Philly and North Philly but just a fleeting thought. When I lived in QV access to rail was poor considering it is mostly considered a center city neighborhood even if South of South St, though that are has no regional rail in any proximity.

The rail option along the waterfront would also allow further development of an area that for the most part remains old and many times abandoned warehouses with prime waterfron real estate and pretty good proximity to the core. That infrastructure could give this area a huge jump start, it dies since I95 was finished and basically walled it from the city in many locales. ok sorry for so much info...


BTW I agree on METRO and even MARTA in Atl (though i do not know the SF trans as well but have used a handful of times) or even the Blue line in Chicago that these are sort of hybrid, probably more close to the future types that work better, almost best of both worlds for regional and core coverage.

[FindingZen]

A better comparison to SEPTA's Regional Rail line would be CalTrain as well as MARC(MD) and VRE (VA). All three are commuter lines that connect the suburbs with the city. As others have stated, there are indeed other rail lines within the city. This would be comparable to Muni in SF. DC's Metrorail IMO acts as a more comfortable extended subway, perhaps not unlike like the Route 100 High Speed Line.

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Whats old news?

...closing of 153 Regional Rail stations. When did that happen, (what year)?

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Why would Philly want to do that? The Regional Rail system is separate then the inner City system. On a sad note Septa's Backwards ness has resulted in the closing of 153 Regional Rail stations and about 5 inner city lines. On a Happy Note Septa hopes to restore at least 140 stations and 3 inner city lines , but this is septa were talking about.

I'm confused by this unless you're purposely exaggerating. Very few Regional Rail stations have closed over the last 30 years.