Trenton Line
{{Short description|SEPTA Regional Rail service}}
{{For|the CSX line|Trenton Subdivision (CSX Transportation)}}{{Not to be confused with|West Trenton Line (SEPTA)|West Trenton Line (NJ Transit)}}{{Infobox rail line
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| name = Trenton Line
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| image = SEPTA Silverliner IV 402 on the R7.jpg
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| caption = Train #4656 pulls into the Cornwells Heights station.
| type = Commuter rail
| system = SEPTA Regional Rail
| status = Operating
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| start = Trenton Transit Center
| end = Temple University
| stations = 15
| daily_ridership = 7,937 (FY 2024)
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| operator = SEPTA
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| stock = Electric Multiple Units, push-pull trains
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| electrification = Overhead line, 12 kV 25 Hz AC
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| website = [http://www5.septa.org/ septa.org]
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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|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.{{cite book | last1=Vuchic | first1=Vukan | author-link1=Vukan Vuchic | last2=Kikuchi | first2=Shinya | year=1984 | title=General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System | location=Philadelphia | publisher=SEPTA|pages=2–8}} The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010.{{cite journal|last=Lustig|first=David|title=SEPTA makeover|journal=Trains Magazine|date=November 2010|pages=26|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing}} {{As of|2022}}, 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.{{cite web|title=Trenton Line schedule|publisher=SEPTA|date=January 7, 2024|url=https://schedules.septa.org/current/TRE.pdf|access-date=June 18, 2024}}
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.{{fact|date=August 2016}}
SEPTA activated positive train control on the Trenton Line on May 1, 2017.{{cite web|title=Positive Train Control Update|publisher=SEPTA|date=May 1, 2017|url=http://www.septa.org/service/rail/ptc/2017-04-update.html|access-date=May 17, 2017}}
Stations
File:North Philadelphia station, September 2013.jpg
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.{{cite web | title=Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update| publisher=SEPTA | date=June 2020 | url=https://planning.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FY-2021_Service_Plan_Update.docx | page=24 | access-date=March 11, 2022}}
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!State !Zone !Location !Station !Miles (km) !Connections {{nowrap|and notes}} |
| rowspan=28|PA
|rowspan=4|C |bgcolor="dfdfdf"|Mantua, Philadelphia |bgcolor="dfdfdf"|Zoological Garden |bgcolor="dfdfdf"|{{convert|1.9|mi|km|abbr=values}} |bgcolor="dfdfdf"|Closed November 24, 1901{{cite web|url=http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1901.pdf|title=A General Chronology of the Successors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and Their Historical Context: 1901|author=Baer, Christopher T.|date=April 2015|publisher=Pennsylvania Railroad Technical Historical Society|access-date=October 17, 2017}} |
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|Engleside |{{convert|2.8|mi|km|abbr=values}} |Discontinued April 5, 1903{{cite news|title=Discontinuing All Stops of Trains at Paschal, South Street, Engelside and Ridge Avenue|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14478110/englesideridge_closing_april_3_1903/|access-date=October 17, 2017|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 3, 1903|page=2|via=Newspapers.com|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}} {{open access}} |
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|rowspan=2|Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia |Ridge Avenue |{{convert|3.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} |
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|22nd Street |{{convert|3.9|mi|km|abbr=values}} | |
| rowspan=7|1
|rowspan=2|Glenwood, Philadelphia |{{stl|Amtrak|North Philadelphia}} |{{convert|4.5|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: Keystone Service |
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|11th Street | | |
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|North Penn Junction | | |
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|rowspan=2|Harrowgate, Philadelphia |Harrowgate | | |
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|{{stl|SEPTA|Frankford Junction}} | |
| rowspan=3|Frankford, Philadelphia |
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|Frankford | |Closed 1990 |
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|{{stl|SEPTA|Bridesburg}} |{{convert|9.3|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|73}} |
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|rowspan=2|Wissinoming, Philadelphia |Fitler | | |
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|{{stl|SEPTA|Wissinoming}} |{{convert|10.1|mi|km|abbr=values}} |
| Tacony, Philadelphia
|{{stl|SEPTA|Tacony}} |{{convert|11.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} | |
| rowspan=3|Holmesburg, Philadelphia
|{{stl|SEPTA|Holmesburg Junction}} |{{convert|12.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|84}} |
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|bgcolor="dfdfdf"|Liddonfield |bgcolor="dfdfdf"| |bgcolor="dfdfdf"| |
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|Pierson's Station | | |
| Torresdale, Philadelphia
|{{stl|SEPTA|Torresdale}} |{{convert|14.8|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|19|84}} |
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|Andalusia | |
| Cornwells Heights
|{{stl|SEPTA|Cornwells Heights}} {{NJT acc}} |{{convert|16.9|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: Keystone Service |
| Eddington
|{{stl|SEPTA|Eddington}} |{{convert|18.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus}} SEPTA Suburban Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|133}} |
| Croydon
|{{stl|SEPTA|Croydon}} {{NJT acc}} |{{convert|19.9|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus}} SEPTA Suburban Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|128}} |
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|{{stl|SEPTA|Bristol}} |{{convert|22.7|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus}} SEPTA Suburban Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|129}} |
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|Edgely | |Closed in 1956; the railroad razed the depot at Edgely on January 16, 1957.{{cite news|title=Landmark Ruled Out|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14479277/edgely_demolished_january_17_1957/|access-date=October 17, 2017|work=The Bristol Daily Courier|date=January 17, 1957|location=Bristol, Pennsylvania|page=7|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} |
| rowspan=2|Tullytown
|{{stl|SEPTA|Levittown}} {{NJT acc}} |{{convert|26.0|mi|km|abbr=values}} |{{rint|bus}} SEPTA Suburban Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|127|128}} |
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|Tullytown | | |
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|Morrisville | |
| NJ
|NJ |Trenton Transit Center {{NJT acc}} |{{nowrap|{{convert|32.4|mi|km|abbr=values}}}} |{{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter |
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.{{refn|group=note|Data for individual lines is not available for FY 2020.{{cite web | url=https://public.tableau.com/shared/863MKJ724 | title=Route Operating Statistics | last=SEPTA Data Group | accessdate=March 1, 2024}}}}{{Cite web |title=SEPTA Route Statistics |url=https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/septa.data.group/viz/shared/2PGM374D9 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=SEPTA}}
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| group 1 = 3491548:3521827:3675433:3634919:3405312:3184043:3253550:0:656208:1372188:2233374:2315458
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| group names = Annual ridership
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| x legends = FY 2013:FY 2014:FY 2015:FY 2016:FY 2017:FY 2018:FY 2019:FY 2020:FY 2021:FY 2022:FY 2023:FY 2024
| colors = #{{rcr|SEPTA|Trenton}}
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Notes
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References
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External links
- [https://schedules.septa.org/current/TRE.pdf SEPTA – Trenton Line schedule]
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