This year marks the tenth anniversary of the West Chester Rail Service Restoration Committee, an ad hoc (aka temporary) advisory committee to Borough Council. While at this point temporary has become a relative term, the group has made significant progress in their Herculean task to return a functioning commuter rail service to West Chester. However, while some things have advanced, some haven’t.  

In describing the situation in an article two years ago, I wrote this:

“Promising and popular stuff that always seems to get snagged in the same spots – the estimated $380M price tag to restore the service and SEPTA’s lack of interest in making such an investment.”

Today significant progress has been made on the former, while the latter remains a frustrating drag on the process.

A $6 Million Gift

Last summer the Rail Restoration Committee and partners at Pop-Up Metro, demonstrated a completely electric train set-up that could carry 190 passengers from West Chester to Center City in 64 minutes – at a fraction of the original cost. According to the committee’s 2023 annual report presented in March, the new model is looking at a startup capital investment more in the $20-30 million range.

That capital will be used to bring the track and infrastructure up to code. It doesn’t include the trains or the operating expenses. However, Pop-Up Metro has agreed to donate the train and two years of its operating costs to get the West Chester Metro up and running. That donation, worth an estimated $6 million, brings the bonus of being able to be used as the “grantee match” when applying for state or Federal grants. Having this collateral available as a match, will save the Borough from having to find extra cash in the budget.  

Why is Pop-up Metro being so generous? It’s not just because they love the West Chester community. Pop-up Metro is a subsidiary of global train operator Railroad Development Corporation. While RDC has significant ridership in Europe, it‘s looking to grow its presence in automobile-centric America.

“The gift is to prove the concept of battery-operated trains in the United States,” said Jordan Norley, a longtime member of the Rail Restoration Committee – and the West Chester Mayor who launched the initiative a decade ago. The offer, however, is conditional.

What’s the condition? you ask. Well, it’s a circle right back to the start, and the seemingly constant foil to all the committee’s best-laid plans. You guessed it; it’s SEPTA. The term sheet marks the donation conditional on “SEPTA contributions and goodwill.” From a contribution standpoint, the group is looking for access to the portion of the track currently being used by the West Chester Railroad, as well as the SEPTA track connecting into the WAWA station, and the land surrounding the tracks to build a modular platform, pedestrian bridge, and other features.

The bigger ask seems to be for goodwill.

The SEPTA Standoff

For a committee eager for face-time and discussion, 2023 proved frustrating. Scheduled meetings with SEPTA were routinely delayed and detailed responses to the regional rail provider’s concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears. Then, the committee received the following message in September:

“At this time, the Pop-up Metro concept does not align with SEPTA’s priorities, and SEPTA does not have the time or resources to dedicate to this proposal from Pop-Up Metro, LLC.”

Ouch.

While I might have cried mercy by now, the committee remains surprisingly optimistic seeing tiny little linings of silver among all those clouds. In February, Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz was elected vice chair of the SEPTA board. Members are hopeful, that her new position will give them greater access.

Looking ahead

SEPTA is of course not the only obstacle. There’s also the start-up capital, ongoing questions about post-pandemic ridership levels, Federal Railroad Administration approvals, and of course, the fact the track is already occupied by the West Chester Railroad. All of which the committee believes they can overcome if they are just given the chance.  

“What we are trying to get to is a road map to yes,” said Jordan. “It can be lengthy. We’ll get there, but we need a path.”  And soon.

“The thing is this is not going to last forever,” he said. “If [Pop-up Metro] meets another township that can meet their needs this opportunity is gone for West Chester.”

Up next for the committee:

1. Set up a nonprofit entity that can hold assets, apply for funding, and advocate on behalf of the Borough.
2. Quantify resident support. The group is exploring adding a ballot question for November.
3. Develop a funding strategy. If SEPTA doesn’t have the resources – who might?

Want more? The West Chester Metro now has a website.

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Originally published on May 3, 2024

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