by ekt8750
The thing is, the ROW they would use for this line is 100% at grade with several grade crossings. I can't see how they could run a third rail operation like that, especially when a lot of the proposed stations are located at grade crossings. I suppose they would have to have trains long enough to bridge the break in the third rail which could mean running trains with closed off cars off peak (current PATCO trains can be as short as 2 cars on weekends).
I'm not sure if PATCO could afford new equipment given that they just spent a ton of money to gut and rebuild the current fleet instead of out and out replacing them. If they were though, perhaps they could run this branch as a light rail line with overhead electrification to Walter Rand (with the necessary physical and/or temporal separation from the freight traffic, which will be needed anyway even if they were to run the current fleet). That way you'd only have to string up wire on this side of the river and retain operational flexibility. Only drawback would be the lack of a single seat ride to Philly.
I'm not sure if PATCO could afford new equipment given that they just spent a ton of money to gut and rebuild the current fleet instead of out and out replacing them. If they were though, perhaps they could run this branch as a light rail line with overhead electrification to Walter Rand (with the necessary physical and/or temporal separation from the freight traffic, which will be needed anyway even if they were to run the current fleet). That way you'd only have to string up wire on this side of the river and retain operational flexibility. Only drawback would be the lack of a single seat ride to Philly.
Conductor for Norfolk Southern Corp. Opinions expressed are my own and don't represent the company in any way.