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Originally Posted by 1487
dont see that ever happening. You don't see new rail lines run in urban areas for a reason. This route is likely very valuable and any diversion of trains around this area would probably add many hours to each trip. Which of course would cost CSX many millions per year.
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no new lines would be needed. The high line would need to be double tracked and some new inter line connections made in south Philly and somewhere either in N or NW Philly.
There are/used to be Cities where all/most of the freight rail lines were owned and managed by some sortof co-op. Back in the day this was done to get rid of needless rail crossing and overlapping tracks, in other words it served the railroads first and foremost. But I'd like to see the same model used to help in different directions.
The State of Pa. paid to deepen tunnels and make other improvements to allow double stacked rail cars. If losing use of the east side rail lines costs CSX alittle extra in time----tough. Maybe if city council figured out how to tax freight trains running through CC the practice would end. Seems like the soda tax is having that effect for soda!
I come back to asking everyone to think what the park could be like without those dam tracks running tight up against Center City, and what the cost has been and will be to continue to keep them there. I know its not a over night fix, but if it could be made a goal then at least the costs could be counted.
Its very easy to pull up rail maps of Philly for any who are interested.