I have never heard of any serious proposals to extend PATCO and seeing that the PATCO line parallels NJ Atlantic City line I dont know the history of why the line was built in the first place. Last I rode it it was using cars from 1960 something..I know about the bridge train but beyond that never seemed to make sence..
sextant wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:54 pm I have never heard of any serious proposals to extend PATCO and seeing that the PATCO line parallels NJ Atlantic City line I dont know the history of why the line was built in the first place. Last I rode it it was using cars from 1960 something..I know about the bridge train but beyond that never seemed to make sense [sence]..A bit of Googling shows that the line was designed as a replacement for and extension of the former Bridge Line that ran from Camden to Philly, where it connected to the BSL. Ridership on the Bridge Line was low because, among other things, it didn't go beyond Camden.
PATCO incorporated part of the former PRR-RDG Seashore Line, thus restoring access beyond Camden. There's a transfer point at Lindenwold that allows passengers to continue eastward via the NJT Atlantic City Line as you noted. However service didn't start until 1969 so I'm not sure what ca.-1960 equipment you might be referring to.
As things stand now there's much more interest in extending the line westward rather than going beyond Lindenwold. The idea of continuing west was first brought up as early as the mid-1970s as part of a much more ambitious plan to connect PATCO with the NHSL in Upper Darby. That idea fell victim to the usual suspects that have stymied many projects in this area: cost, severed ROWs, and lack of political will. Since then increased growth in the University City area has given new impetus to proposals to build as far as either 34th St. or 40th St. Aside from the benefits of better-serving the city's "eds and meds" district, such an extension would offer better connections to several SEPTA routes including three Regional Rail lines and the Subway-Surface system.