This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Chestnut Hill East Line" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Chestnut Hill East Line
The Chestnut Hill East station as seen in October 2012. The station depot, constructed by the Reading Company, is visible on the left.
Overview
Service typeSEPTA Regional Rail commuter service
Current operator(s)SEPTA
Ridership3,874 (FY 2019 daily)[1]
Route
TerminiChestnut Hill East
Temple University
Stops14
Distance travelled18.1 mi (29.1 km)
Line(s) used
Technical
Rolling stockElectric multiple units
ElectrificationOverhead line, 12 kV 25 Hz AC

The Chestnut Hill East Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail (commuter rail) system. The route serves the northwestern section of Philadelphia with service to Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill. It is one of two lines that serve Chestnut Hill, the other one being the Chestnut Hill West Line. The line is fully grade-separated.

History

Main article: Chestnut Hill East Branch

The Chestnut Hill East Line is a continuation of the Reading Company's suburban services on the Chestnut Hill East Branch from Philadelphia to Germantown and Chestnut Hill. The oldest part of the line that became the Chestnut Hill East Branch was opened in 1832 by the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad, and later became part of the Reading system. Electrified service began on February 5, 1933.[2]

Until 1984 Chestnut Hill East trains used the Reading Viaduct to reach Spring Garden Street and the Reading Terminal; this ended with the opening of the Center City Commuter Connection which routed the trains through the city center and on the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad part of the system.[3] From this point the route was designated R7 Chestnut Hill East as part of SEPTA's diametrical reorganization of its lines; trains continued on to the Trenton Line.[4] The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010.[5] As of 2022, most Chestnut Hill East Line trains continue through Center City to the Trenton Line.[6]

SEPTA activated positive train control on the Chestnut Hill East Line on July 25, 2016.[7]

On April 9, 2020, service on the line was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[8] though Temple University and Wayne Junction stations were still being served by other rail services. Service resumed on June 28, 2020.[9]

Stations

The Reading Company opened Gravers in 1879
Mount Airy, like Gravers, was designed by Frank Furness

The Chestnut Hill East line makes the following station stops after leaving the Center City Commuter Connection; stations indicated with a gray background are closed. All stations are located within the city of Philadelphia.[10]

Zone Location Station Miles (km)
from
Center City 		Connections / notes
C Temple University Temple University Disabled access 2.1 (3.4)
Nicetown–Tioga
Tioga Closed 1989
Nicetown Closed November 14, 1988 due to fire damage[11]
1 Wayne Junction Disabled access 5.1 (8.2)
Wister
Fishers 5.7 (9.2) Closed October 4, 1992[12]
Wister 6.1 (9.8) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: J
East Germantown
Wingohocking 6.5 (10.5)
Germantown 6.8 (10.9) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: 26, J, K
2 Walnut Lane 7.7 (12.4)
Washington Lane 7.8 (12.6) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: XH
East Mount Airy Stenton 8.6 (13.8) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: 18
Gorgas 8.7 (14.0)
Sedgwick 8.9 (14.3) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: H
Mount Airy 9.3 (15.0)
Chestnut Hill
Mermaid 9.8 (15.8)
Wyndmoor 10.0 (16.1) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: 77
Gravers 10.3 (16.6) Bus transport SEPTA City Bus: L
Chestnut Hill East 10.8 (17.4)

Ridership

Yearly ridership on the Chestnut Hill East Line between FY 2008–FY 2019 has remained steady around 1.4–1.6 million, save for a dip in FY 2019.[note 1]

500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
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][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update". SEPTA. June 2020. p. 24. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Coates, Wes (1990). Electric trains to Reading Terminal. Flanders, NJ: Railroad Avenue Enterprises. pp. 74–75. OCLC 24431024.
  3. ^ Williams, Gerry (1998). Trains, Trolleys & Transit: A Guide to Philadelphia Area Rail Transit. Piscataway, New Jersey: Railpace Company. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-9621541-7-1.
  4. ^ Vuchic, Vukan; Kikuchi, Shinya (1984). General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System. Philadelphia: SEPTA. pp. 2–8.
  5. ^ Lustig, David (November 2010). "SEPTA makeover". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing: 26.
  6. ^ "Chestnut Hill East Line schedule" (PDF). SEPTA. December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  7. ^ "Positive Train Control Update". SEPTA. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "Service Information". SEPTA. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "SEPTA Regional Rail & Rail Transit Lifeline Service" (PDF). SEPTA. 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "Chestnut Hill East Line Timetable" (PDF). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. September 10, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Bowden, Mark (December 23, 1988). "A SEPTA Ride to a Sealed Station". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 15. Retrieved October 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ Dougherty, Frank (October 25, 1996). "Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2019. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 27, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2018. p. 74. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2017. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. October 2016. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2015. p. 94. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2014. p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2013. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  20. ^ "Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. May 2012. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  21. ^ "Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. July 2011. p. 94. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2010. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  23. ^ "Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. June 2009. p. 63. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.

External links

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority)
Mass transit in the Delaware Valley
Categories