Rail committee outlines $50 million commuter plan while volunteer railroad seeks funding for repairs

The Rail Restoration Committee and the volunteer Westchester Railroad delivered two linked presentations to West Chester Borough Council on planning for commuter service and preserving the tourist railroad that uses the same tracks.

Jason Leven, chair of the Rail Restoration Committee, said the committee has sketched a preliminary capital-and-operating plan for the proposed West Chester commuter shuttle with an initial five-year budget of about $50 million. "We have a state line item that passed the House for $25 million," Leven said, adding that the committee hopes to pair that state funding with federal or private matches. The plan would initially run Monday–Friday commuter service and contemplates consolidating some station locations (for example at a university campus) to take advantage of available state property and improve operations.

Leven said the committee is focusing on standard Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-certified equipment to ensure interoperability with existing track and to meet safety requirements; a previous light-rail concept faltered because non-FRA equipment could not operate with existing infrastructure. He said the committee is considering battery-equipped locomotives and small coach consists and emphasized the need for further engineering work and firm cost estimates.

Separately, Derek Sliper, operations manager for the volunteer-run Westchester Railroad, reported on maintenance and preservation work. He outlined recent projects including a rail-and-tie replacement that replaced 1,700 feet of rail and 250 ties at a cost of $136,000 with partial grant matching, and noted the purchase of a $40,000 Fairmont TKO tie inserter that will speed future tie replacement. Sliper said the railroad operates nearly year-round, carries roughly 20,000 passengers annually, is inspected regularly by SEPTA and the FRA, and that most work is performed by volunteers.

Sliper described a proposed 45-by-150-foot train shed at the Adam Street yard to protect historic equipment and improve maintenance efficiency; the project is estimated at about $350,000 and is under review with SEPTA real estate. He said the railroad is seeking grants (including federal Section 130 for grade crossing upgrades) and private donations to cover improvements and ongoing maintenance.

Councilors questioned equipment compatibility, trackage ownership and environmental issues tied to old creosote-treated ties. Presenters said SEPTA owns the right-of-way and that compliance with FRA standards is central to any commuter proposal; the railroad said old ties are currently stockpiled pending disposal or recycling and that most recently purchased ties have lower creosote content.

Next steps: the Rail Restoration Committee and Westchester Railroad will continue engineering work, pursue grant opportunities and coordinate with SEPTA and neighboring municipalities. Council offered continued support but did not take formal financial action at the meeting.