Trenton Line

For the CSX line, see Trenton Subdivision (CSX Transportation).

Not to be confused with West Trenton Line (SEPTA) or West Trenton Line (NJ Transit).

Trenton Line
Train #4656 pulls into the Cornwells Heights station.
Overview
Status	Operating
Termini	Trenton Transit Center Temple University
Stations	15
Website	septa.org
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	SEPTA Regional Rail
Operator(s)	SEPTA
Rolling stock	Electric Multiple Units, push-pull trains
Daily ridership	7,937 (FY 2024) [1]
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 12 kV 25 Hz AC
Route map Show interactive map Legend Amtrak Northeast Corridor to Boston 32.5 mi 52.3 km Trenton New Jersey Pennsylvania Zone  NJ   4  Morrisville closed Trenton Cutoff 26.0 mi 41.8 km Levittown Edgely closed 22.7 mi 36.5 km Bristol Zone  4   3  19.9 mi 32 km Croydon 18.2 mi 29.3 km Eddington 16.9 mi 27.2 km Cornwells Heights Andalusia closed 14.8 mi 23.8 km Torresdale Zone  3   2  12.2 mi 19.6 km Holmesburg Junction 11.2 mi 18 km Tacony Wissinoming closed 9.3 mi 15 km Bridesburg Zone  2   1  ACL to Atlantic City Frankford Junction closed to Chestnut Hill West 4.5 mi 7.2 km North Philadelphia SEPTA Main Line Zone  1   C  Ridge Avenue closed Engleside closed Zoological Garden closed Keystone Corridor (Main Line) to Harrisburg 0.9 mi 1.4 km 30th Street Station 0 mi 0 km Suburban Station 0.5 mi 0.8 km Jefferson Station 2.1 mi 3.4 km Temple University This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram map

The Trenton Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail (commuter rail) system. The route serves the northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with service in Bucks County along the Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey.

Route

Trenton Line trains operate along a four-track line from 30th Street Station via the Philadelphia Zoo (without stopping there), to North Philadelphia, before running parallel to I-95 and then US 13 for several miles. It crosses the Delaware River at Trenton, New Jersey before making its final stop at Trenton Transit Center, which is also served by Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains.

The route is part of the middle leg of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor; all 11 of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor services run along this line. The line's termini, 30th Street and Trenton Transit Center, have long been among the busiest Amtrak stations in the country. On weekdays, Amtrak connections are also available at North Philadelphia and Cornwells Heights. Connecting Trenton Line service is listed in timetables for NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, of which Trenton Transit Center is the southern terminus.

History

Main article: Northeast Corridor

Electrified service between Philadelphia and Trenton began on June 29, 1930.

Between 1984–2010 the route was designated R7 Trenton as part of SEPTA's diametrical reorganization of its lines. Trenton Line trains operated through the city center to the Chestnut Hill East Line on the ex-Reading side of the system. ^[2] The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010. ^[3] As of 2022 ^[update] , most Trenton Line trains continue through Center City to the Chestnut Hill East Line, while some trains terminate at Temple University or continue to other destinations. ^[4]

The Trenton Line usually has two push-pull electric-locomotive-hauled trains on the morning express runs and two on the evening express runs. Each train is usually made up of 6 coach trailers made by Bombardier with ACS-64 locomotives hauling them.^{[ citation needed ]}

SEPTA activated positive train control on the Trenton Line on May 1, 2017. ^[5]

Stations

North Philadelphia station in 2013

The utilitarian Torresdale station (seen in 2012) is typical of the Trenton Line

The Trenton Line includes the following stations north of the Center City Commuter Connection; stations indicated with gray background are closed. All stations within the Philadelphia city limits have a ticket office for purchasing ticket(s) to ride the Trenton line. Many stations outside the city limits have a ticket office as well, however they have shorter hours (most outside the city limits are closed on weekends) and fewer amenities than the ticket offices inside the stations within Philadelphia. Cornwells Heights station is considered a popular station on the route as it is the busiest SEPTA Regional Rail station outside of Center City, and serves Amtrak trains as well. ^{[6] [4]}

State	Zone	Location	Station	Miles (km) from Center City	Connections and notes
PA	C	Mantua, Philadelphia	Zoological Garden	1.9 (3.1)	Closed November 24, 1901 [7]
		Brewerytown, Philadelphia	Engleside	2.8 (4.5)	Discontinued April 5, 1903 [8]
		Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia	Ridge Avenue	3.2 (5.1)	Discontinued April 5, 1903 [8]
			22nd Street	3.9 (6.3)
	1	Glenwood, Philadelphia	North Philadelphia	4.5 (7.2)	Amtrak: Keystone Service SEPTA Regional Rail:       Chestnut Hill West Line SEPTA Metro: SEPTA City Bus: 4 , 16
			11th Street
		Fairhill, Philadelphia	North Penn Junction
		Harrowgate, Philadelphia	Harrowgate
			Frankford Junction		Discontinued October 4, 1992 [9]
		Frankford, Philadelphia
			Frankford		Closed 1990
	2		Bridesburg	9.3 (15.0)	SEPTA City Bus: 73
		Wissinoming, Philadelphia	Fitler
			Wissinoming	10.1 (16.3)	Discontinued November 9, 2003 [10]
		Tacony, Philadelphia	Tacony	11.2 (18.0)
		Holmesburg, Philadelphia	Holmesburg Junction	12.2 (19.6)	SEPTA City Bus: 84
	3		Liddonfield
			Pierson's Station
		Torresdale, Philadelphia	Torresdale	14.8 (23.8)	SEPTA City Bus: 19 , 84
		Andalusia	Andalusia		Discontinued October 4, 1992 [9]
		Cornwells Heights	Cornwells Heights	16.9 (27.2)	Amtrak: Keystone Service SEPTA City Bus: 78 SEPTA Suburban Bus: 133
		Eddington	Eddington	18.2 (29.3)	SEPTA Suburban Bus: 133
		Croydon	Croydon	19.9 (32.0)	SEPTA Suburban Bus: 128
	4	Bristol	Bristol	22.7 (36.5)	SEPTA Suburban Bus: 129 TMA Bucks: Bristol Rushbus
		Levittown	Edgely		Closed in 1956; the railroad razed the depot at Edgely on January 16, 1957. [11]
		Tullytown	Levittown	26.0 (41.8)	SEPTA Suburban Bus: 127 , 128
			Tullytown
		Morrisville	Morrisville		Closed October 25, 1969 [12]
NJ	NJ	Trenton	Trenton Transit Center	32.4 (52.1)	Amtrak: Cardinal , Carolinian , Crescent , Keystone Service, Northeast Regional , Palmetto , Pennsylvanian , Silver Meteor , Vermonter NJ Transit Rail:       Northeast Corridor Line,       River Line NJ Transit Bus: 409 , 418 , 600 , 601 , 604 , 606 , 608 , 609 , 611 , 613 , 619 SEPTA Suburban Bus: 127

Ridership

Between FY 2013–FY 2019 yearly ridership on the Trenton Line ranged from 3.1–3.6 million before collapsing during the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[note 1] [13]}

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

FY 2024

Notes

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

References

1. SEPTA Data Group. "Route Operating Statistics" . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
2. Vuchic, Vukan; Kikuchi, Shinya (1984). General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System. Philadelphia: SEPTA. pp. 2–8.
3. Lustig, David (November 2010). "SEPTA makeover". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing: 26.
4. "Trenton Line schedule" (PDF). SEPTA. January 7, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
5. "Positive Train Control Update". SEPTA. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
6. "Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update". SEPTA. June 2020. p. 24. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
7. Baer, Christopher T. (April 2015). "A General Chronology of the Successors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and Their Historical Context: 1901" (PDF). Pennsylvania Railroad Technical Historical Society. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
8. "Discontinuing All Stops of Trains at Paschal, South Street, Engelside and Ridge Avenue". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 3, 1903. p. 2. Retrieved October 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
9. "New Rail Schedules Set". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 2, 1992. p. 36. Retrieved October 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
10. "SEPTA Regional Rail Schedules Change Sunday" (Press release). PR Newswire Association LLC. November 5, 2003. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
11. "Landmark Ruled Out". The Bristol Daily Courier. Bristol, Pennsylvania. January 17, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved October 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
12. Baer, Christopher T. (April 2015). "A General Chronology of the Successors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and Their Historical Context: 1969" (PDF). Pennsylvania Railroad Technical Historical Society. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
13. "SEPTA Route Statistics". SEPTA . Retrieved 2025-04-16.

External links

• SEPTA – Trenton Line schedule