OnTrack

This article is about the New York commuter train line. For other uses, see Ontrack (disambiguation).
OnTrack
OnTrack trains at Armory Square in July 1995
OnTrack trains at Armory Square in July 1995
Overview
LocaleSyracuse, New York
Transit typeSuburban rail
Number of lines1
Number of stations3 (full time)
2 (flag stops)
3 (seasonal)
3 (proposed but never opened)
Operation
Began operationOctober 1994
Ended operationMarch 2008
Operator(s)New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
Number of vehicles4
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

OnTrack was a suburban rail line that operated in Syracuse, New York, from 1994 to 2008. The line ran from the Carousel Center (today's Destiny USA) on the city's north side via Armory Square and Syracuse University to Colvin Street, with summer weekend service south to Jamesville, mainly using 1950s-era diesel railcars.[1][2]

The line was the result of a public-private partnership between the state of New York, Onondaga County and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW), a Class II regional freight carrier.[3] The NYSW received tax breaks and grants in exchange for operating passenger service on the Syracuse line. Although OnTrack was initially successful, ridership declined and was ultimately discontinued due to inadequate rush hour service, poor publicity and failure to connect to Syracuse's Amtrak and intercity bus routes.[4]

In recent years, there have been proposals to complete the line and restart passenger service, potentially as a light rail system.[5][6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Metro Jacksonville was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "2004-20053 SMTC Environmental Justice Report, Map 10: OnTrack Rail Service" (PDF). Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council. Mar 2005. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rail Inventory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ LaBerge 2009, p. 13–15.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kirst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference airport was invoked but never defined (see the help page).