CUSTOM
ATHLETICS
^SCENTENNIALAVE.
SEWICKLEY, PA 15143
412-741 -9610
INFORMATION RE: STOPS IN NEW CASTLE,PA AND BEAVER PALLS, PA
Amtrak's agreement with Ccmrail to reroute the Capital
Limited (Chicago-Pittsburgh-Washington, DC) and the Broadway
Limited (Chicago-Pittsburgh-Philadelphia-New York) will require
the development of new intermediate stops between Chicago and
Pittsburgh. Conrail has already agreed to prepare station platforms at Waterloo, IN and Alliance, OH for the rerouted Capital
and in Auburn, IN, Akron, OH, and Youngstown, OH for the rerouted Broadway. Stops are also being considered for Napannee,
IN (pop. 4694), and Syracuse, IN (pop. 2579).
Reasons for the Broadway to stop in New Castle, PA include:
1. New Castle is the largest community through which the
Broadway would pass between Youngstown and Pittsburgh. New Castle
population is 41,000.
2. Excellent highway access to the east (PA Rte. 422) and
to the north (PA Rte. 60 and US Interstate 79) would allow a stop
in New Castle to be utilized by residents in 6 western Pennsylvania
counties.
3. An Amtrak precedent exists for stopping in communities
approximately the same size and distance apart as Youngstown and
New Castle.
Youngstown, OH (pop. 150,000) - 22 miles - New Castle, PA
(pop. 41,000)
Existing examples:
Lakeshore/Capital Limited
Southbend, IN (pop. 109,000) - 17 miles - Elkhardt, IN
(pop. 41,000)
Capital Limited
Martinsburgh, WV (pop. 13,000) - 18 miles - Harpers Perry, WV
(pop. 361)
Cardinal
Catlettsburg/Ashland, KY (pop. 27,000) - 10 miles Huntington, WV (pop. 63,000)
4. Pennsylvania has demonstrated its commitment to Amtrak by
providing 403-B subsidies for operation of the Pennsylvanian, and
funds for station/platform construction, a commitment not shared
by the states of Ohio and Indiana. This is an important point for
Amtrak to consider in light of the Bush administrations recently
released transportation policy which encourages an expanded role
by states in the funding of public transportation projects.
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415 CENTENNIAL AVE.
SEWICKLEY, PA 15143
412-741 -9610
5. By Amtrak f s own admission, stopping in New Castle would
only take a few minutes. Since the Broadway will be running on
tracks between Youngstown, OH and New Brighton, PA that are manually signaled, forcing passenger trains to run slower than otherwise, time constraints must not be that severe. In addition, future
upgrading of the Gonrail line or use of the CSX line through this
area would more than make up for time lost stopping at New Castle.
6. The Broadway would service New Castle at approximately
1:00 A.M. westbound and 5:30 A.M. eastbound. This schedule, while
not ideal, is at least reasonable when compared with the Broadway's
stops in Ohio scheduled between 2:00 A.M. and 4:00 A.M.
While the reasons for placing a stop in New Castle are compelling,
the case for stopping in Beaver Palls is even stronger.
Reasons for the Capital Limited to stop in Beaver Palls,include:
1. Beaver Palls is ideally situated between two existing
stops: Alliance, .OH, 53 miles to the west, and Pittsburgh, 34 miles
to the south-east. Stopping the Capital in Beaver Palls allows
Amtrak to access a new market. Drives to the existing stops are
long and arduous from Beaver Palls.
2. Beaver County's population of 200,000, which includes a
high concentration of elderly and low to middle income residents,
provides a strong customer base for Amtrak.
3. Other service is likely to be placed in Beaver Palls in the
near future. The long anticipated Pennsylvanian extension to
Cleveland would compliment the Capital in both timing and destination
choices.
4. Beaver Palls is not serviced by Greyhound, making Amtrak
the only non-drive public transportation available.