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Sender:
XXXXXXX@amtrak.com From: "Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx" <XXXXXXX@amtrak.com> To: "'rbooth@compuserve.com'" <rbooth@compuserve.com> Subject: RE: RE: General Inquiries |
Thank you for your recent correspondence
concerning Cornwells Heights, which has been forwarded to this office.
Our current service offers two trains
eastbound and five westbound, which should have been sufficient to
generate ridership and revenue at this location. While we agree that
Cornwells Heights seems to be an excellent location for commuter service to and
from New York, it simply has not worked out that way, despite the large parking
lot and attractive service patterns we have offered. Because ridership
has failed to build (the parking lot continues to have plenty of spaces), we
will abandon this stop when the remaining Clockers are
transferred to New Jersey Transit in October.
Your understanding is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Amtrak Customer Relations
-----Original
Message-----
From: rbooth@compuserve.com
Sent: 10 Aug 05 00:39:20
To:
Cc:
Subject: General Inquiries
Name: Richard Booth
Email: rbooth@compuserve.com
Address1: 4641 Yates Road
Address2:
City: Bensalem
State: PA
Zip/Postal: 19020
Country: United States
Phone Number: 215-837-6557
Subject: General Inquiries
Message:
I'm planning on contacting as many political figures, governmental agencies,
and media outlets as necessary to get support for increased Amtrak service at
the Cornwells Heights stop along the Northeast Corridor line in Pennsylvania. I
would like to speak and/or correspond with someone who can help with my
pre-media research, the results of which I intended to start taking to
politicians and media advocates by the end of next week. I am trying to
understand why the best Amtrak cummuting hub in Pennsylvania for New York City
workers is being all but phased out, while service in other, less populated
parts of the state is receiving heavy investment and state subsidization, not
to mention 6 to 11 New York-bound trains a day at every stop between
Philadelphia and Harrisburg. I have heard that Cornwells Heights is neglected
because it is owned and operated by Septa, not Amtrak, and Amtrak only stops
there to the extent that the nearly bankrupt Septa system can afford to pay
Amtrak to make stops. Is this true? I am seeking a better understanding of how
Amtrak funding in Pennsylvania works so that I can go to the politicians and
the press in the most appropriate way to get political support for funding
better Amtrak service at the Cornwells Heights station. I have commuted daily
to New York City from that station for over four years, and seen the number of
New York-bound trains dwindle from 4 a day to 2 a day, and all the conductors
are telling me that one of the remaining two will be shut down in October. (45
Amtrak trains go through the station to New York every weekday; 2 stop; it has
a huge, half-used free park-and-ride lot; and it's the closest stop to New York
City in Pennsylvania!) There are constant rumors that the station will be taken
entirely out of Amtrak's service schedule, and nobody at 1-800-USA-RAIL seems
to have any of the answers to any of my questions. I don't want to harm Amtrak
or even blame Amtrak in any way. My goal is to seek political support for
improved service at what should be the next up-and-coming commuting location
along the northeast corridor. (Think "next Princeton Junction" as
commuters discover that suburban Philadelphia is just an hour and change from
the heart of Manhattan.) Lately, instead, commuters I have known for years have
started fleeing to other more distant stations because of the service cutbacks.
Please contact me as soon as possible so that I may better represent Amtrak's
predicament before politicians and the press. Thanks. -- Richard Booth