State Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery County) announced the release of a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study that determines the next steps in restoring passenger rail service from Berks, western Montgomery, and northern Chester counties to Philadelphia.
The study, which looked at costs, operations, and feasibility of a Reading-To-Philadelphia passenger rail service, was completed in December 2020.
“PennDOT initiated the Reading to Philadelphia Passenger Rail Analysis to examine the critical path necessary to restore passenger rail service between Philadelphia and Reading along the historic rail corridor connecting Norristown to Reading. The analysis explored feasible service alternatives, capital improvements, and next steps required to initiate service,” the report said.
Passenger rail service operated from Philadelphia to Reading starting in the mid-1800s and lasting until its suspension in 1981 during the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) transition to an all-electric network.
“The completion of this study from PennDOT is a crucial step toward the ultimate goal of re-establishing passenger service from Reading to Philly for the first time since the early 1980s,” Ciresi said. “A major takeaway from this analysis is the cost for rebuilding service with stations in Valley Forge, Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown and Birdsboro is significantly lower than other proposals, including a much shorter line from King of Prussia to Philadelphia or the previous Schuylkill Valley Metro project. I’m confident that this project is not only necessary but very feasible.”
Ciresi acknowledged that there had been many studies on the feasibility of reintroducing passenger service to the corridor but hoped this one would help move the project forward.
“There are so many people in Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Royersford, and various communities along this corridor who would benefit from the return of rail service into and out of Philadelphia,” he said. “The study by PennDOT highlights a cost analysis I believe makes total sense to continue work toward making this happen.”