The Candy Line

The Candy Line is a proposed conversion of the currently unused Devault line from Phoenixville PA to Devault, PA into a non-motorized walking and biking trail.  This train line is owned by Norfolk Southern (http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/), and has previously served to transport sugar to American Sweeteners, Inc in Devault, PA for making candy treats; however, it has been generally out of service since the late 1990's.  This corridor would be an excellent non-motorized transportation path connecting downtown Phoenixville safely to Charlestown township, with connections to the Schuylkill Valley Trail (and downtown Phoenixville), the horseshoe trail, Great Valley Middle & High Schools, as well as the Chester Valley Trail.  the path would pass within short distance of the Great Valley Nature Center, Charlestown elementary, Phoenixville High School, and other areas of interest.

The SCP Rails to Trails group (Schuylkill, Charlestown, Phoenixville) has been in contact with the Regional Planning Commission, the boards of each involved township/borough, and the Citizens for the Train group to work towards either a rails with trails or a rails to trails project.

The Citizens for the Train group, headed by Barry Cassidy, have been pushing for the use of the Devault line as a commuter rail line call the Greenline; extending the current rail to Paoli and connecting with the R5 SEPTA regional railway.  Budgets and hills have delayed progress on the Greenline; however the SCP Rails to Trails group  still supports improved train access to the Phoenixville region.

More information on the current status of the Candy Line will follow shortly.