West Trenton Line (SEPTA)


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

Route

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. 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

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.
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.
Prior to 1981, limited service continued north to Newark, New Jersey, 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. NJT has since considered service resumption on their West Trenton Line.
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. 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. The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010., most West Trenton Line trains terminate at 30th Street Station on weekdays, while most evening trains operate to Elwyn on the Media/Elwyn Line. Most weekend trains operate to Malvern or Thorndale on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.
Between Oakford and West Trenton, the West Trenton Line previously followed CSX's Trenton Subdivision until passenger and freight operations were separated. SEPTA and CSX trains were separated between Woodbourne and West Trenton in 2015 ahead of the implementation of positive train control on the West Trenton Line.
SEPTA activated PTC on the West Trenton Line on October 24, 2016.
On April 9, 2020, service on the line was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though stations between Center City and were still being served by other rail services. Service resumed on June 15, 2020.

Stations

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.
StateZoneLocationStationMiles
from Center City		Date openedConnections / notes
PACTemple University SEPTA Regional Rail: all lines
PA1Nicetown–Tioga, Philadelphia SEPTA Regional Rail: Chestnut Hill East, Fox Chase, Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster lines
SEPTA City Bus:
PA1Olney-Oak Lane, Philadelphia----
PA1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaLoganDiscontinued October 4, 1992
PA1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaTabor
PA1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaFern Rock Transportation Center SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster lines
SEPTA City Transit: Broad Street Line
SEPTA City Bus:
PA2Melrose Park SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster lines
PA2Elkins ParkMay 14, 1899SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster
SEPTA City Bus:
PA3JenkintownSEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster
SEPTA City Bus:
PA3NobleSEPTA City Bus:
PA3Rydal
PA3Abington
PA3Bethayres SEPTA City Bus:
PA3Huntingdon Valley
PA3Somerton, Philadelphia SEPTA City Bus:
PA3Somerton, Philadelphia SEPTA City Bus:
PA3Bensalem Township
PA3Bensalem Township SEPTA City Bus:
PA3PenndelParklandClosed March 1978
PA4LanghorneSEPTA City Bus:
SEPTA Suburban Bus:
PA4Middletown Township----
PA4Middletown TownshipFairless JunctionClosed March 1978
PA4Middletown Township
PA4Yardley
NJNJWest TrentonNJ Transit Bus:

Ridership

Between FY 2008–FY 2015 yearly ridership on the West Trenton Line held steady at 3.3–3.5 million, before declining to 3 million by FY 2018.