Norfolk Southern Says No To Phoenixville Passenger Rail Proposal

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Norfolk Southern is not interested in the project to bring passenger rail to Phoenixville as it is currently designed, according to sources, and this has been the company's position since the summer.

Rudy Husband, the vice president for the major railway, told Royersford Borough last week that they remain a "firm no" on the preliminary plan, according to information shared on the borough's Facebook page Monday. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Norfolk told Patch Monday that the major railway has no official position because they have not received an official proposal.

Organizers behind the rail proposal are meeting Monday night to discuss Norfolk's comments and to determine a direction forward, project manager Barry Cassidy said.

The official proposal is the crux of the issue for the project, which would connect the Route 422 corridor to the Manayunk/Norristown Line utilizing Norfolk's existing non-electrified freight track. The company, known for transporting coal around the nation, has extensive requirements for any passenger rails which would use their lines (a copy of the guidelines submitted to Royersford borough, which are dated Jan. 2018, are included at the bottom of this article).

"It's a challenging situation, to mix passenger trains with local freight," Norfolk spokesperson Jonathan Glass said.

Norfolk must be compensated for insurance and indemnity for risk, which carries "substantial" cost, the railway said, citing their experience with other commuter authorities on past projects.

The plan must allow for both passenger and freight trains to operate without delay. And a year-long feasability study, fully funded by a sponsoring public agency but executed by Norfolk Southern, must be undertaken, per the guidelines, "so that Norfolk Southern could fully understand the potential impacts," Glass added.

In their statement to Royersford, Norfolk said their line which runs through the Phoenixville area is among their more highly used lines, that growth is expected, and that it would not be able to accomodate the additional passenger rail traffic. They reportedly added that their position on passenger rail "has not changed nor do they expect it to."

The feasability study referenced above is not the same as the private pilot feasability study, funded by developer Manny DeMutis, which was launched in April and reignited interest in this long-discussed issue.

The proposal calls for adding three new stops in Schuylkill Township, Phoenixville, and King of Prussia.

Phoenixville Borough Council approved a Mayor's Task Force in the summer, and more details on the project were emerged. There was — and there remains — strong support from local officials and community leaders, but that's only the beginning of the process.

"(Royersford) Borough Council remains extremely supportive of any and all measures that will alleviate traffic on 422, 724 etc. and allow for an effective level of transit to reduce congestion," the borough stated Monday. "We will continue to have thoughtful and measured discussions."

>>3 New Stations Proposed In Phoenixville Rail Project Talks

In addition, approval would be required from neighboring municipalities, along with full cooperation from SEPTA, though at this point, neither seem as big a hurdle as Norfolk.

Discussions for a passenger rail to the area have been in the works for decades, and have gained steam over the past few years due to rapid development in the King of Prussia, Phoenixville-Royersford area and severe traffic all along the Route 422 corridor.

Another project proposed by the same team is a longer term "greeline" project, which would connect Phoenixville to the Paoli Train Station on the Main Line. That project would use both Norfolk Southern lines in combination with the existing Manayunk-Norristown line and Cynwyd line and new right of ways Nothing formal has been proposed, so Norfolk does not have an official position here, either.

Norfolk's full "guiding principles" for the evulation of passenger rail proposals are included below.

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