This is probably the most interesting train journey I've watched so far. The age and variety of infrastructure, unusual stations, industrial sidings, the super-tall power line supports and then trains manoeuvering 20' away from one another. Fascinating and atmospheric.
It is possible that as a result of the earlier 15-minute hold-up, the train has 'lost its path' and is therefore coming up against a lot of adverse signals. At least, that is how it appears as I watch this thousands of miles away in the UK. But what do I know? It must have been frustrating for passengers and train crew alike.
Lol it’s slow. Their used to be multiple railroads that handled commuter operations so they built stations close to one another to syphon off passengers. As a result when SEPTA took over commuter operations, there were stations barely 2 miles away from each other so they go at slower speeds so as to not overshoot the station
The camera being zoomed out hurts the perception of speed. But even with that, this train is unusually slow for the Trenton Line. The cab signals keep flipping to unfavorable indications despite no visible conflicts on the track ahead. And a permanent approach limited (45 mph) was added for all trains about a mile from Frankford Junction to prevent a repeat of the 2015 accident.
Europeans would riot if their trains were this slow. Also some of these smaller stations look like a couple of guys went to home depot one weekend and slapped a station together. C'mon, man.
The Wilmington/Newark line is like this too. Just a slab of concrete with a yellow line. Even Newark station at the end of the line is neglected. It’s so sad
It usually takes about 50 minutes. Probably the switching problems had a lot of traffic on the tracks. Generally, Septa is pretty solid on it's on time schedules.
SEPTA always gets dinged by a slow signal two miles north of Levittown. It’s for the crossover move at Morris which is necessary to reach track 5 at Trenton and there’s no way to avoid it.
Jack D. Ripper: The same can be said for CTA's Chicago L trains. It might take well over 2 hours to go from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport!
Besides the initial 15 minute delay at the start, the passengers in wheelchairs, using the "wheelchair accessible" stations, could have wheeled themselves to Trenton faster than taking this train. Some of the slowdowns seemed really odd.
I took Septa to Trenton, oh it had to be back in 1994, i did the Economy Commuter Jaunt to NYC, this was on a Saturday, no particular reason for going, just to spend the day sight seeing. I do not remember the Philly to Trenton trip taking long at all, when i transferred to the NJT commuter train, that was a long ride in to Newark then over to Manhattan. This trip im witnessing right now is embarrassing, if you have a place to be your screwed! This has to be the slowest stretch on the Northeast Corridor!
I’d be interested in seeing a version of this with a speed indicator, since during certain parts it isn’t actually clear what the true speed of the train is due to the narrow field of view of the camera
Ain't this the truth, the conductor clipping the tickets was quicker walking down the train himself, swear I could have walked back to Trenton faster on my own..!! 🤣🤣
If you need to rest up before you reach your destination, this is the trip to take! Acquiring new trains for the system is not the problem here. I do not know why this trip is taking this long??
Seems like the signal system must've been malfunctioning this day... every time the train speeds up it immediately get hit with an approach signal/speed restriction despite the track ahead being clear
Ain't this the truth, the conductor clipping the tickets was quicker walking down the train himself, swear I could have walked back to Trenton faster on my own..!! 🤣🤣
I took the train from Edinburgh to Sterling roughly the same distance as Philly to Trenton ,got there in under 45mim...in a vastly more comfortable couch....
37:57 THAT is a station!? It’s a couple of steps next to the track! Also, what is with the constant acceleration to a good speed to a deceleration or walking speed? What’s going on with that?
Even given the state of SEPTA and American transit funding in general, this was just a bad day for the line. Track 3 was out of service and the cab signals kept giving slow indications, hence the routine beeping being heard.
I don't know what the problem was with the speed. This vdeo ran 1:15:37 while the schedulled running time 30th St. to Trenton is 0:52. Engineer didn't go to Warp Speed until after Cornwells Hts. Slow order following trackwork? Delay at Powelton Ave Coach Yard didn't help (just after 30th St.)
I don't see the problem. the switch was open to allow the train to go to the correct direction, so whats the problem? on a good clear bright day you can see that signal at 20:17 from the expressway its that bright. I think they should make it so that the Keystones started using North Philadelphia instead of 30th and wasting 15 minutes by having to back track. 29:30 is where #188 went flying. They can program the PTC to have the system know where track workers are? I really like that. 36:27 are they even allowed on that track? I thought it was owned by CSAO.
30th is the busiest station for Keystone trains. No way they don’t stop there. Amtrak originally stopped using North Philadelphia because Philadelphia passengers for the Keystone and Broadway Limited refused to go out of their way to wait for a train in a dangerous neighborhood.
Thought these trains were supposed to be quick...😐 That's what happens when you leave Philly for the Midwest (Milwaukee), and I'm talking 30 years ago!
CTA the same constant story on L trains going to O'Hare Airport! You're more than likely to miss your flight! 10 miles an hour on all CTA L LINES. Constant switching problems and the motorman texting and watching videos!
