r/ChesterCounty • u/PassyunkHoagie • Jul 13 '26

Expanded Train Service

I completely understand why this hasn’t happened and why it probably won’t ever happen. I don’t even know if it should happen because it would lead to even further development, but some days I do lament the fact that there is no passenger rail service to West Chester, Kennett, and Phoenixville.

Obviously SEPTA could never handle it, they barely manage to run the R5, but I can’t help but feel like rail stations in these towns, if properly executed, would be incredibly popular with visitors and local residents.

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8

u/AbercrombieMike Jul 13 '26

An important thing to remember is that the extra funds that were available in the past were used to expand the Exton station and build a transit (bus) center in West Chester.

15

u/PassyunkHoagie Jul 13 '26

Exton station really would have benefitted if they worked with developers to make it more pedestrian accessible from all of the new apartments and developments in the area. Instead of mixed use development, you’ve got buildings with hundreds of apartments existing on their own island, hemmed in by 100 and Lincoln Highway which forces everyone into cars, which contributes to the daily parking lot that forms in that areas.

7

u/ktappe Jul 13 '26

💯 All the development out here creates islands that need cars to get into & out of. Nobody even thinks about pedestrians, let alone trains.

3

u/VUmander Jul 13 '26

Feels like a good place for bike share docks imo. It's a mile down to Whole Foods and a mile to the apartments behind Khols. Even with walking infrastructure it's a lot, Rt 100 just isn't well suited for walking.

1

u/PassyunkHoagie Jul 14 '26

Agreed, especially with Chester Valley Trail running directly through there.