West Trenton Line

The West Trenton Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail service connecting Center City Philadelphia to the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, New Jersey. With around 12,000 riders every weekday, it is the third busiest line in the SEPTA Regional Rail network.[1]

This article is about the SEPTA commuter rail line. For the proposed NJ Transit line, see West Trenton Line (NJ Transit).
West Trenton Line
Langhorne station on the West Trenton Line
Overview
Service typeSEPTA Regional Rail commuter service
Current operator(s)SEPTA
Ridership12,031 (FY 2019 daily)[1]
Route
TerminiPenn Medicine
West Trenton
Stops23
Line(s) used
Technical
Rolling stockElectric multiple units
ElectrificationOverhead line, 12 kV 25 Hz AC

Route
Outbound train on the West Trenton Line between the Meadowbrook and Bethayres stations
Main article: Neshaminy Line

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
See also: New York Branch
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

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

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 of New Jersey joint service between Newark, N.J. and Phila. Reading Terminal via Belle Mead, N.J. on today's SEPTA 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]

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

Ridership

Between FY 2008–FY 2019 yearly ridership on the West Trenton Line has held steady at 3.3–3.5 million, except for a dip to 3 million in FY 2018.[note 1]

1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
FY 2008
FY 2009
FY 2010
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
FY 2014
FY 2015
FY 2016
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019

Notes
  1. Annual ridership statistics compiled from SEPTA's Annual Service Plans.[1][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

References
  1. "Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update". SEPTA. June 2020. p. 24. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  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. Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers. 13 (3). 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
  15. "Elkins Station Opened at Ogontz Park". The Philadelphia Times. May 15, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. "Rail Hikes Stalled". The Philadelphia Daily News. March 23, 1978. p. 58B. Retrieved July 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  17. "Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2019. p. 42. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  18. "Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2018. p. 74. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  19. "Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2017. p. 44. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  20. "Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. October 2016. p. 70. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  21. "Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2015. p. 94. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  22. "Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2014. p. 60. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  23. "Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2013. p. 44. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  24. "Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2012. p. 55. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  25. "Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. July 2011. p. 94. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  26. "Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2010. p. 70. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  27. "Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2009. p. 63. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
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