This is an interesting dialogue about the possibility of commuter service into Pennsylvania. The reason I suggest higher train speeds, especially where possible on the cut-off is that most people will put up with a lot before they give up their cars I suspect even the higher gasoline prices didn't affect traffic on I-80 last summer. There has to be a MAJOR-ADVANTAGE for people to switch over to the train. Diner-lounge service with cars that had the Erie layout for drinks in the lounge and meals at tables would be an additional perk to attract passengers. It could be offered as some form of "First Class or Business Class" service. Stroudsburg-Hoboken service would be similar in distance to the Port Jervis service. I often wondered why DL&W never added local service on the cut-off. If you look at through-line TT's from 1940 and before, you will find Hoboken-Stroudsburg trains. Some ran as an express over the Boonton Line making one stop at Boonton and then becoming a local west of Dover making all stops down the Old Main Line terminating at East Stroudsburg. I assume this service was to give the towns on the Old Main Line some passenger service after most through trains were put on the cut-off with only three possible stops: Johnsonburg, Greendell, and Blairstown. Newer coaches with tilt capability could improve speed over the Poconos. I'm not sure what the passenger load would be beyond Cresco. I suspect passengers beyond that would be periodic business appointments and tourists. Trains similar to the Rio Grande Ski Train out of Denver could prove profitable. I'm wondering how many passengers Martz actually serves? I suspect it may be fewer than 500. Ed Montgomery - - The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List http://EL-List.railfan.net/ To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------ End of EL Mail List Digest V3 #2981 ***********************************
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