Is resurrected passenger rail in downstate DE in the offing?

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by NYC refugee

There are actually towns south of Dover and the end point could be Salisbury.

It would make a lot more sense to end such a line all the ay to Salisbury, but I decided to focus on New Castle and Kent Counties, especially since that's what makes up the Philadelphia CSA, and since driving from Dover to 30th St Station takes about 90 minutes, then such a service may take up to about 2 hours, considering each stop along the planned route!!!

[NYC refugee]

Originally Posted by wanderer34

It would make a lot more sense to end such a line all the ay to Salisbury, but I decided to focus on New Castle and Kent Counties, especially since that's what makes up the Philadelphia CSA, and since driving from Dover to 30th St Station takes about 90 minutes, then such a service may take up to about 2 hours, considering each stop along the planned route!!!

That's fine, except the thread is about passenger rail in downstate DE.
I'm about equidistant from Dover, Salisbury, and the beaches and I wish I could save all the gas and driving.

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by NYC refugee

That's fine, except the thread is about passenger rail in downstate DE.
I'm about equidistant from Dover, Salisbury, and the beaches and I wish I could save all the gas and driving.

I'm pretty sure that Kent and Sussex Counties are considered Downstate DE. If there was a lot of traffic going from Salisbury to Wilmington, then there would've been more priority, but a Dover to Philadelphia route via Wilmington makes a lot more sense to resurrect.

[quiet life]

Originally Posted by wanderer34

A rail service downstate is very possible, however I'm not sure if the state of DE nor the private interests that are interested in such a venture are actually putting forth the effort in creating such a service. A rail service between Philadelphia and Dover via Wilmington would definitely work, especially with growth in downstate DE. There would be the following stations along this route N to S:

- Philadelphia (30th St)
- Chester
- Wilmington
- Collins Park
- New Castle
- Rt. 13 - 40
- Bear
- Kirkwood
- Mt. Pleasant
- Middletown
- Townsend
- Clayton - Smyrna
- Cheswold
- North Dover
- Dover
- South Dover

If that were to happen, you'd see ridership increase since there seems to be a trend of getting people out of their cars into mass transit. If it can work for FL with the Brightline and Tri Rail, it can work for DE!!!

I was going to suggest Brightline HSR but there would be less stops from what you are proposing. Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, maybe connecting rail service to Lewes to the Ferry north and Bethany Beach south.

[SonySegaTendo617]

Originally Posted by quiet life

I was going to suggest Brightline HSR but there would be less stops from what you are proposing. Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, maybe connecting rail service to Lewes to the Ferry north and Bethany Beach south.

That earlier comment from wanderer, felt like a little too many stops. I think whay you said is a reasonable number of stations though, though I'd also add one for the town of Milford. But that's just me.

South of Dover, potentially there should be 2 branches. One to Rehoboth(maybe also Bethany, or a bus connection could at minimum be established?), and another to Salisbury, MD. But that's just me. I guess if it didn't went all the way to Salisbury, having a station in Delmar, DE might be nice. Seaford and Harrington might be able to support a station, on a Salisbury branch.

[NYC refugee]

I would definitely add Milford and Bethany on a beach branch with Ocean City a good final destination. Inland after Dover would be Harrington, Bridgeville, Seaford, Laurel, Delmar, Salisbury. Might save some gas and traffic accidents.

[kyle19125]

Any well-planned rail expansion in Delaware will probably start with the basic connecting points first with overlapping service to Amtrak and SEPTA in Wilmington (and potentially Newark) with Middletown, Smyrna and Dover. The second phase could add an intermediary with Milford and a Georgetown terminus. A private transit company or Sussex County Transit could easily fulfill a Georgetown to Lewes-Rehoboth shuttle.

[quiet life]

Ocean City, MD would be a good final destination. I am a former DE resident living in the Poconos so I am familiar with the area. In the summer months, this proposed route would be packed. The Beach Express: Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Salisbury, Ocean City.

[skeddy]

it's those pesky other 8 months of the year when no one would be riding the train that makes it unrealistic.

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by skeddy

it's those pesky other 8 months of the year when no one would be riding the train that makes it unrealistic.

I agree that passenger traffic would be lighter than the summer but this place is hopping all year now and if I were to be a betting person - I would say Jan and Feb for sure would be light but there are so many things going on the "formerly known as the shoulder season" that I think it would be pretty decent.