Bethlehem Line Explained

Bethlehem Line
Type:Commuter rail
Status:Discontinued
Last:July 27, 1981
Formeroperator:Conrail
SEPTA
Start:Reading Terminal, Philadelphia, U.S.
End:Bethlehem Union Station, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Line Used:Bethlehem Branch
Map State:collapsed

The Bethlehem Line was a SEPTA Regional Rail service on the former Reading Company Bethlehem Branch between Lansdale and Bethlehem. Some trains continued over the electrified Lansdale/Doylestown Line to the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia.

Between 1978 and 1979, SEPTA extended service to Allentown. Service ended altogether in 1981 as SEPTA eliminated its former Reading diesel services. The Bethlehem Line is owned by SEPTA and is utilized for freight service by the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad between Lansdale and Telford and the East Penn Railroad between Telford and Quakertown.

The Quakertown–Bethlehem section has been dormant since the early 1990s: several portions of the rail bed currently serve as the interim rail trails. It is not officially abandoned.

History

See main article: North Pennsylvania Railroad. The route between Philadelphia and Bethlehem was constructed in the 19th century by the North Pennsylvania Railroad, a forerunner of the Reading Company. The Reading continued to operate passenger services between the two cities into the 20th century; at one time Bethlehem was a major interchange with the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Commuter services survived into the Conrail era but fell victim to SEPTA's decision in 1981 to eliminate diesel services. Service between Bethlehem] and Quakertown ended on July 1, 1981; service between Quakertown and Lansdale ended on July 26.

Stations

Bethlehem trains made the following station stops; stations indicated with italics closed prior to the discontinuation of service in 1981. Mileage and fare zones are from the July 30, 1978 timetable.

Zone Distance Station City/Township County
1 01NaN1 Philadelphia
1A 0.81NaN1 Spring Garden Street
1.81NaN1 Temple University
2.91NaN1 North Broad Street
41NaN1 Tioga
4.31NaN1 Nicetown
5.11NaN1 Wayne Junction
2 5.91NaN1 Logan
6.71NaN1 Tabor
7.31NaN1 Fern Rock
2E 8.41NaN1 Montgomery
9.21NaN1 Elkins Park
2J 10.81NaN1 Jenkintown
11.91NaN1 Glenside
3 131NaN1 Abington
13.91NaN1 Springfield
14.81NaN1 Whitemarsh
4 15.91NaN1 Fort Washington
17.31NaN1 Ambler
18.81NaN1 Lower Gwynedd
201NaN1 Gwynedd Valley
5 22.41NaN1 North Wales
23.51NaN1 Lansdale
24.41NaN1 Lansdale
6 27.11NaN1 Hatfield
29.61NaN1 Souderton
7 30.91NaN1 Telford
33.61NaN1 Bucks
351NaN1 Perkasie
8 40.21NaN1 Quakertown
10 47.61NaN1 Lehigh
11 52.61NaN1 Northampton
56.61NaN1 Bethlehem
12 61.31NaN1 Lehigh

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