by jfrey40535
Since I live a few blocks from the Richmond branch, in Port Richmond, I do stumble across local news about changes going on in the area.
Two significant changes in the future which has me pondering the future of the branch are: 1- the casions & reconfiguration of I-95 and 2- Redevelopment of the Delaware River waterfront.
I read in this week's local paper that plans for I-95 and the casinos involve contructing a temporary road near the river that will detour cars to the casinos when the Girard Ave ramp is closed for construction over a 2 year period. What's in the way right now is the railroad & Riverside materials. The long term plan is to shift 95 closer to the river to allow extra lanes and larger off ramps for the casino. However this might be a conflict with the plans being discussed for redeveloping the waterfront (parks and freeways don't mix well).
The initial plan released for redeveloping the waterfront calls for redeveloping the entire site that was formerly the Reading's Port Richmond Terminal. The only portion of the site now used is the Northern tract of land by Conrail (Ann St shop) and Riverside Materials. Will eminent domain be used to take the land and convert it to a park/condos?
The branch itself is does see regular traffic. There are daily switching moves in the yard and to the Oil Tank farm at Allegheny & Delaware. RM has 3-5 stone trains a month that come in and drop off concrete for recycling (I don't know if anything goes out). A few trains a month do make it up the old PBL track all the way to Bridesburg, but those trains are usually only a few cars.
Despite a report by RumorPace, I haven't seen any indication that rail service is coming back to Tioga Marine Terminal, which seems lightly used.
Many of these plans might be years away, but I'm wondering if the former Reading site is taken over for other use, is there any other use for the Richmond Branch between the terminal and Midvale?
Does anyone think it would even be possible to reactivate the PRR-Tacony branch (ran along the River) between Tacony and the PBL which connects to Richmond yard?
Two significant changes in the future which has me pondering the future of the branch are: 1- the casions & reconfiguration of I-95 and 2- Redevelopment of the Delaware River waterfront.
I read in this week's local paper that plans for I-95 and the casinos involve contructing a temporary road near the river that will detour cars to the casinos when the Girard Ave ramp is closed for construction over a 2 year period. What's in the way right now is the railroad & Riverside materials. The long term plan is to shift 95 closer to the river to allow extra lanes and larger off ramps for the casino. However this might be a conflict with the plans being discussed for redeveloping the waterfront (parks and freeways don't mix well).
The initial plan released for redeveloping the waterfront calls for redeveloping the entire site that was formerly the Reading's Port Richmond Terminal. The only portion of the site now used is the Northern tract of land by Conrail (Ann St shop) and Riverside Materials. Will eminent domain be used to take the land and convert it to a park/condos?
The branch itself is does see regular traffic. There are daily switching moves in the yard and to the Oil Tank farm at Allegheny & Delaware. RM has 3-5 stone trains a month that come in and drop off concrete for recycling (I don't know if anything goes out). A few trains a month do make it up the old PBL track all the way to Bridesburg, but those trains are usually only a few cars.
Despite a report by RumorPace, I haven't seen any indication that rail service is coming back to Tioga Marine Terminal, which seems lightly used.
Many of these plans might be years away, but I'm wondering if the former Reading site is taken over for other use, is there any other use for the Richmond Branch between the terminal and Midvale?
Does anyone think it would even be possible to reactivate the PRR-Tacony branch (ran along the River) between Tacony and the PBL which connects to Richmond yard?
