West Trenton Line

Last updated
West Trenton Line
Langhorne SEPTA railroad station.jpg
Langhorne station on the West Trenton Line
Overview
Service type SEPTA Regional Rail commuter service
Current operator(s) SEPTA
Ridership3,613 (FY 2022 daily) [1]
Route
Termini Penn Medicine
West Trenton
Stops23
Line(s) used
Technical
Rolling stock Electric multiple units
Electrification Overhead line, 12 kV 25 Hz AC

The West Trenton Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail service connecting Center City Philadelphia to the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, New Jersey.

Contents

Route

Outbound train on the West Trenton Line between the Meadowbrook and Bethayres stations SEPTA West Trenton Line outbound train between Meadowbrook and Bethayres.jpg
Outbound train on the West Trenton Line between the Meadowbrook and Bethayres stations

The West Trenton Line connects Center City Philadelphia with the West Trenton section of Ewing, New Jersey. The line splits from the SEPTA Main Line at Jenkintown, running northeast on the Neshaminy Line. At Bethayres, it crosses the Pennypack Trail that runs along the former Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad, which once connected with the Fox Chase Line. At Oakford, the former New York Short Line Railroad, once part of the Reading's main line to West Trenton and Jersey City and currently CSX's Trenton Subdivision, merges. North of Oakford, the West Trenton Line runs parallel to CSX's Trenton Subdivision. The West Trenton Railroad Bridge, a concrete arch bridge, crosses the Delaware River to the final stop at West Trenton.

History

West Trenton station TRENT-Station.jpg
West Trenton station

Like all of the Reading Company's commuter lines, the West Trenton Line was electrified in the early 1930s and has a mix of at-grade and grade separated crossings. Electrified service to West Trenton was opened on July 26, 1931. The RDG planned to also electrify tracks between West Trenton and the CNJ Terminal in Jersey City for long-distance service, but had to drop plans for electrification outside of the commuter service area due to economic setbacks as a result of the Great Depression.

Reading Railroad Crusader streamliner Reading Railroad Crusader streamliner.JPG
Reading Railroad Crusader streamliner

The line north of the split at Jenkintown was originally built as the National Railway project, opened on May 1, 1876, to provide an alternate to the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Companies' monopoly over Philadelphia-New York City travel. From Jenkintown to the Delaware River it was built by the North Pennsylvania Railroad as a branch, while the New Jersey section was built by the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad, merging with the Central Railroad of New Jersey at Bound Brook. In addition to the Reading Company, which leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad in 1879, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad also used the line for passenger and freight service to New York City, including its famed Royal Blue service. In 1976 the Reading merged into Conrail, and in 1983 SEPTA took over operations.

Former R3 Logo R3 West Trenton.gif
Former R3 Logo

Prior to 1981, limited service continued north to Newark, New Jersey (Jersey City prior to the Aldene Plan of the 1960s), using Budd Company-built Diesel multiple units. This service was the last remains of the Reading's Crusader service, which began in 1937 using streamlined steam locomotives and passenger cars. SEPTA ended service beyond West Trenton on August 1, 1981; connecting NJT diesel service lasted until December 1982. [2] [3] NJT has since considered service resumption on their West Trenton Line. [4]

Beginning in 1984 the route was designated R1 West Trenton as part of SEPTA's diametrical reorganization of its lines. West Trenton Line trains operated through the city center to the Airport Line on the ex-Pennsylvania side of the system. [5] In later years this behavior changed; the line was designated R3 West Trenton and trains continued on to the Media/Elwyn Line on weekdays and the Airport Line on weekends. [6] The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010. [7] As of 2022, most West Trenton Line trains terminate at 30th Street Station on weekdays, while most evening trains operate to Malvern or Thorndale on the Paoli/Thorndale Line. Most weekend trains operate to Chestnut Hill West on the Chestnut Hill West Line. [8]

On April 9, 2020, service on the line was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [9] though stations between Center City and Jenkintown–Wyncote were still being served by other rail services. Service resumed on June 15, 2020. [10]

Stations

Passenger Schedule (eff. 1974-09-30) of Reading Railway and Central Railroad of New Jersey joint service between Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia's Reading Terminal via Belle Mead, New Jersey on today's SEPTA's West Trenton Line and NJT Raritan Valley Line. BELLE MEAD 19740930.jpg
Passenger Schedule (eff. 1974-09-30) of Reading Railway and Central Railroad of New Jersey joint service between Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia's Reading Terminal via Belle Mead, New Jersey on today's SEPTA's West Trenton Line and NJT Raritan Valley Line.

The West Trenton Line includes the following stations north of the Center City Commuter Connection; stations indicated with a gray background are closed. The train expresses from Bethayres to Temple University inbound on some trains in the morning and expresses outbound from Temple University to Bethayres on some trains in the evening. [11]

StateZoneLocationStation Miles (km)
from
Center City
Date openedConnections / notes [12] [13]
PA C Temple University Temple University Wheelchair symbol.svg 2.1 (3.4) SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail: all lines except for the Cynwyd Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 3 , 23 , 47
1 Nicetown–Tioga, Philadelphia Wayne Junction Wheelchair symbol.svg 5.1 (8.2) SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail:       Airport Line,       Chestnut Hill East Line,       Fox Chase Line,       Lansdale/Doylestown Line,       Warminster Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 2 , 23 , 53
SEPTA.svg SEPTA Trackless Trolley: BSicon OBUS.svg 75
Olney-Oak Lane, Philadelphia
LoganDiscontinued October 4, 1992 [14]
Tabor
Fern Rock Transportation Center Wheelchair symbol.svg 7.3 (11.7) SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail:       Airport Line,       Lansdale/Doylestown Line,       Warminster Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Transit: BSL Broad Street Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 4 , 28 , 57 , 70
2 Melrose Park Melrose Park Wheelchair symbol.svg 8.4 (13.5) SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail:       Airport Line,       Lansdale/Doylestown Line,       Warminster Line
Elkins Park Elkins Park 9.2 (14.8)May 14, 1899 [15] SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail:       Airport Line,       Lansdale/Doylestown Line,       Warminster Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 28
3 Jenkintown Jenkintown–Wyncote 10.8 (17.4) SEPTA.svg SEPTA Regional Rail:       Airport Line,       Lansdale/Doylestown Line,       Warminster Line
SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 77
Noble Noble 12.0 (19.3) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 55
Rydal Rydal 12.8 (20.6)
Abington Meadowbrook 13.8 (22.2)
Bethayres Bethayres Wheelchair symbol.svg 15.1 (24.3) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 24 , 88
Huntingdon Valley Philmont Wheelchair symbol.svg 16.4 (26.4)
Somerton, Philadelphia Forest Hills Wheelchair symbol.svg 17.7 (28.5) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 84
Somerton Wheelchair symbol.svg 18.2 (29.3) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 58 , 84
Bensalem Township Trevose Wheelchair symbol.svg 19.9 (32.0)
Neshaminy Falls Wheelchair symbol.svg 21.1 (34.0) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 58
Penndel ParklandClosed March 1978 [16]
4 Langhorne Langhorne 23.9 (38.5) SEPTA.svg SEPTA City Bus: Bus-logo.svg 14
SEPTA.svg SEPTA Suburban Bus: BSicon BUS2.svg 130
Middletown Township
Fairless JunctionClosed March 1978 [16]
Woodbourne Wheelchair symbol.svg 26.4 (42.5)
Yardley Yardley Wheelchair symbol.svg 30.8 (49.6)
NJ NJ West Trenton West Trenton 32.5 (52.3) NJT logo.svg NJ Transit Bus: BSicon BUS2.svg 608

Ridership

Between FY 2013–FY 2019 yearly ridership on the West Trenton Line held steady at 3.3–3.5 million, except for a dip to 3 million in FY 2018, before collapsing during the COVID-19 pandemic. [note 1]

1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
FY 2013
FY 2014
FY 2015
FY 2016
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023

Notes

  1. Data for individual lines is not available for FY 2020. [1]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trenton Line</span> SEPTA Regional Rail system line

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethayres station</span>

Bethayres station is a SEPTA Regional Rail station in Bethayres, Pennsylvania. It is located at Station Avenue and Old Welsh Road and serves the West Trenton Line to Ewing, New Jersey. Bethayres station was originally built in 1876 by the Reading Railroad. The station has off-street parking and a ticket office. There is also a handicapped-accessible platform. In FY 2013, Bethyares station had a weekday average of 578 boardings and 553 alightings. Bethayres is the last boarding stop for AM peak service express trains to Philadelphia and the first discharge stop for PM peak service express trains from Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yardley station</span> SEPTA train station in Yardley, Pennsylvania, United States

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<i>Crusader</i> (train) Reading Railroad train between Philadelphia and Jersey City

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Branch</span>

The New York Branch or the Bound Brook Route was a railway line in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was operated by the Reading Company and owned by two of its subsidiaries, the North Pennsylvania Railroad and the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad. It formed part of the Reading's route from Philadelphia to New York City, used by the famed Crusader. The line was transferred to Conrail in 1976 and was split into the Neshaminy Line and Trenton Line. SEPTA continues to operate commuter trains to West Trenton as part of its West Trenton Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neshaminy Line</span>

The Neshaminy Line is a railway line in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It runs 21.7 miles (34.9 km) from a junction with the SEPTA Main Line just north of Jenkintown–Wyncote to West Trenton, just across the Delaware River. It was originally built in 1876 as part of the much longer New York Branch, which continued north to Bound Brook, New Jersey. The electrified section between Jenkin and West Trenton was designated the Neshaminy Line and is now owned by SEPTA. It hosts the West Trenton Line commuter rail service. The freight-only Trenton Subdivision runs parallel between Neshaminy Falls and West Trenton.

References

  1. 1 2 SEPTA Data Group. "Route Operating Statistics" . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  2. Williams, Gerry (1998). Trains, Trolleys & Transit: A Guide to Philadelphia Area Rail Transit. Piscataway, New Jersey: Railpace Company. p. 71. ISBN   978-0-9621541-7-1.
  3. Pawson, John (March 1993). "New Backing for "Crusader" Route". The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger. 13 (3). Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  4. "Chapter 1: Purpose and Need" (PDF). Proposed Restoration of Passenger Rail Service on the West Trenton Line Draft Environmental Assessment. New Jersey Transit. November 2007. p. 1-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  5. Vuchic, Vukan; Kikuchi, Shinya (1984). General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System. Philadelphia: SEPTA. pp. 2–8.
  6. "R3 West Trenton" (PDF). SEPTA . June 21, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  7. Lustig, David (November 2010). "SEPTA makeover". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing: 26.
  8. "West Trenton Line" (PDF). SEPTA . December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  9. "Service Information". SEPTA . Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  10. "SEPTA Regional Rail & Rail Transit Lifeline Service" (PDF). SEPTA. 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  11. "West Trenton Line Timetable" (PDF). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. September 10, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  12. "Trenton Line Timetable" (PDF). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. September 10, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  13. "Airport Line Timetable" (PDF). SEPTA. SEPTA. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  14. "New Rail Schedules Set". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 2, 1992. p. 36. Retrieved October 19, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. "Elkins Station Opened at Ogontz Park". The Philadelphia Times. May 15, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. 1 2 "Rail Hikes Stalled". The Philadelphia Daily News. March 23, 1978. p. 58B. Retrieved July 4, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg