AN ACR DC9 FLC RPTS THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE THE RWY 9L HOLD LINE ON TXWY M. THE RPTR RECOMMENDS SEVERAL MEASURES TO MAKE THE LINE MORE VISIBLE.

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I WAS CAPT ON AN ACR FLT FROM BOSTON TO PHILADELPHIA ON OCT/FRI/97. I LANDED AT APPROX XA00 PM ON RWY 9R; EXITED THE RWY ONTO THE PARALLEL TXWY AND PROCEEDED. TWR TOLD US TO TAXI ON TXWY N AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 9L FOR DEPARTING TFC. I TOLD MY COPLT TO REQUEST TXWY M SINCE IT WOULD PROVIDE AN EASIER TAXI RTE TO OUR GATE. HE GRANTED THAT REQUEST. ON TURNING ONTO TXWY M MY COPLT REMINDED ME TO STOP SHORT OF RWY 9L. IN MY BEST JUDGEMENT; I STOPPED WITH WHICH I FELT WAS SAFE AND ADEQUATE CLRNC FROM THE RWY BECAUSE IN RETROSPECT I DON'T RECALL SEEING A DISTINGUISHABLE HOLD LINE ON A VERY DARK TXWY. DUE TO A POTENTIAL PROB AND TO ENHANCE SAFETY I RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING FOR NIGHTTIME OPS WHEN LNDG TO THE E AT PHILADELPHIA INTL ARPT. PUT IN A HOLD TAXI LINE/RWY LIGHT IDENT SYS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SEE IN REDUCED VISIBILITY SIT OR WHEN SNOW; ETC; IS COVERING THE TXWY. REPAINT THE EXISTING HOLD LINE AND USE SOME TYPE OF FLUORESCENT STRIPES TO CLRLY IDENT THE HOLD LINE IF IS ALLOWABLE AND DOESN'T POSE A FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE PROB. IF THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED I WOULD CONSIDER USING IT FOR A DAYTIME OP ONLY.