Save Cornwells Heights
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
about us/me contact archives Bucks County TMA Driving Directions to the Station
New
Cornwells Heights Train Schedule Expected As Of October 31, 2005
As
of today, Amtrak’s Internet website shows no trains servicing Cornwells Heights
from October 31st onwards.
Nevertheless, there will still be trains running. I have been informed by Amtrak’s top brass
that they expect service to and from Cornwells Heights to run on the following
schedule (subject, of course, to change) on and after Monday, October 31st:
From Cornwells Heights to New York City
Train
#630 leaves CWH at 6:15 and arrives at Penn Station at 7:17 (62 minutes)
Train
#180 leaves CWH at 7:43 and arrives at Penn Station at 8:43 (60 minutes)
From New York City to Cornwells Heights
Train
#193 leaves Penn Station at 5:39 and arrives at CWH at 6:38 (59 minutes)
Train
#633 leaves Penn Station at 6:09 and arrives at CWH at 7:23 (74 minutes)
All
trains stop at Newark. Some skip
Trenton. Most skip Princeton Junction,
although train #633 in the evening may stop there. Train #630 is expected to change its run to approximately a 6:30-leaving-to-7:32-arrival
schedule after track work on the Harrisburg line is completed some unknown
number of months down the line.
This
is not as robust a schedule as I believed we would have when I left the meeting
with Congressman Fitzpatrick and Amtrak’s Mr. David Gunn on September 15th. I had been under the impression that our
8:11 a.m. Keystone train into New York would still be on the schedule, but it
is possible that there was an honest misunderstanding as to exactly which and
how many trains would run in the morning.
In any event, there will be a train 28 minutes earlier than the 8:11,
which is much less inconvenient than having no train at all.
There
was also an understanding that service to Cornwells Heights would be substantially
maintained at least at the same level as what it currently enjoys. Dropping from five afternoon and evening
trains down to two seems, instead, like a service reduction. There may be more layovers in Trenton for $3
SEPTA rides in our immediate future.
The
new schedule appears to be one that supports minimum needs for station survival. Given the recent fare hike, the near closure
of the station, and the new schedule which reduces Cornwells Heights to the
lowest train count in its history, growing station ridership may still be a
challenge.
Having
handed the Clocker trains over to New Jersey Transit (effective 10/31), Amtrak now
has fewer trains to choose from when trying to provide Cornwells Heights with service. I will continue to work on the schedule and fare
problems, but for now it appears we will have two trains a day each way and
monthly ticket prices of $870 coming soon.
If
at all possible, buy your monthlies out through September, 2006, at the
current price of $555 no later than October 15th to save
nearly $3,000 in the coming year.
–
Rick
[The articles below were
originally posted on 9/28/2005.]
Amtrak
to Hike Cornwells Heights Monthly Pass Cost 57%
Amtrak
announced yesterday that it would increase the cost of a monthly pass from
Cornwells Heights to New York City from its present $555 to approximately $712
as of October 16th, and $870 as of February (most likely February 16th,
but possibly earlier). The ultimate
rise to $870 will mean an extra annual outlay of $3780 per Cornwells Heights
commuter using a monthly pass. Another
reprieve from the hikes, in the short term, may not be likely.
How
You Can Protect Yourself From the Increase
Amtrak
allows monthly passes to be purchased for up to 11 months in advance at current
rates. Therefore, up until October
16th, it should be possible to make advance purchases of all monthly passes
needed for commuting through September, 2006.
The cost of buying 10 extra passes next month, in addition to the
November pass, would be $5,550. Monthly
passes purchased but not used may be turned back in before the month in which
they were to be used, and Amtrak refunds 90% of the purchase price under such
circumstances.
What
About Next Year?
Trenton
commuters can still get monthly New Jersey Transit passes for $320. A monthly Amtrak pass for the 104 miles of
commute from Philadelphia to Harrisburg is currently $299, and will likely rise
to only $469. Commuters using New
Jersey Transit trains to commute from little Campbell Hall in upstate New York,
almost the same distance as our commute, pay $279. Cornwells Heights, at $870, and Philadelphia itself, are in an
odd commuting fare warp zone. It is
possible that the warp can be corrected within the next year with continued
political effort.
More
News And Commentary To Come…
There
is much more that can and should be said about the impending Amtrak fare hike
and the bizarre fare warp zone being experienced by New York City commuters
south of the Delaware River. More will
be written here soon.
–
Rick