Chestnut Hill East Line Explained

Chestnut Hill East Line
Type:SEPTA Regional Rail commuter service
Operator:SEPTA
Ridership:2,318 (FY 2023 daily)
Stops:14
End:Temple University
Distance:18.1miles
Stock:Electric multiple units
El:Overhead 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

See 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.

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. 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.[1] The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010.[2], most Chestnut Hill East Line trains continue through Center City to the Trenton Line.[3]

SEPTA activated positive train control on the Chestnut Hill East Line on July 25, 2016.[4]

On April 9, 2020, service on the line was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[5] though and stations were still being served by other rail services. Service resumed on June 28, 2020.[6]

Stations

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.[3]

ZoneLocationStationMiles (km)
from
Connections / notes
CTemple University2.1miles
Nicetown–Tioga
TiogaClosed 1989
Closed November 14, 1988 due to fire damage[7]
15.1miles
Wister
5.7miles Closed October 4, 1992[8]
6.1miles SEPTA City Bus:
East Germantown
Wingohocking6.5miles
6.8miles SEPTA City Bus:
27.7miles
7.8miles SEPTA City Bus:
East Mount Airy8.6miles SEPTA City Bus:
Gorgas8.7miles
8.9miles SEPTA City Bus:
9.3miles
Chestnut Hill
9.8miles
10miles SEPTA City Bus:
10.3miles SEPTA City Bus:
10.8miles

Ridership

Yearly ridership on the Chestnut Hill East Line between FY 2013–FY 2018 was steady around 1.4–1.6 million. Ridership declined in FY 2019 and then collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Vuchic . Vukan . Vukan Vuchic . Kikuchi . Shinya . 1984 . General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System . Philadelphia . SEPTA. 2–8.
  2. Lustig. David. SEPTA makeover. Trains Magazine. November 2010. 26. Kalmbach Publishing.
  3. Web site: Chestnut Hill East Line schedule. SEPTA. January 7, 2024. June 18, 2024.
  4. Web site: Positive Train Control Update. SEPTA. May 1, 2017. May 17, 2017.
  5. Web site: Service Information . . April 14, 2020.
  6. Web site: SEPTA Regional Rail & Rail Transit Lifeline Service . . 2020 . April 14, 2020.
  7. News: Bowden. Mark. A SEPTA Ride to a Sealed Station. October 19, 2017. The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 23, 1988. 15. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Dougherty. Frank. Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited. The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 25, 1996. November 3, 2017.