Norristown High Speed Line
Encyclopedia
The Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) is an interurban
line system operated between Upper Darby and Norristown
, Pennsylvania
, USA by SEPTA. The rail line runs entirely on its own right-of-way
, inherited from the original Philadelphia and Western Railroad
line (still referred to by locals as the "old P&W" and Route 100).
The Norristown High Speed Line is unique in its combination of transportation technologies. Originally chartered as a steam railroad, the line is fully grade separated
, collects power from a third rail
, and has high-level platforms common to rapid transit
systems, but has onboard fare collection, mostly single-car operation, and frequent stops more common to light rail
systems. Previously, the Norristown High Speed Line was considered to be a light rail
line, according to a 2008 SEPTA budget report; however, the line is currently considered a heavy rail interurban line, according to a 2009 SEPTA business plan.
The line was formerly known simply as Route 100 but was officially changed to its current name in September 2009 as part of a customer service initiative by SEPTA.
(P&W), which ran from the present 69th Street Terminal
in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania to a converted farmhouse station in Strafford, Pennsylvania
. In 1911, the line was extended .47 mile west to a new Strafford P&W station adjacent to the Pennsylvania RR's Strafford station
, allowing easy interchange between the two lines. In 1912, a 6.2-mile branch was constructed from Villanova Junction, .33 mile west of the existing Villanova station, to Norristown. When the newly-built branch quickly attracted more ridership than the Strafford main line, the Norristown section became the main line and the Strafford stretch was demoted to branch status; in the mid 1930s, the Strafford spur was narrowed to a single track for its last 1.74 miles between the Wayne-St. Davids and Strafford stations, while the Norristown line got a sleek new art deco
terminus at Main and Swede Streets.
. However, in 1951, the Lehigh Valley Transit Company ended its service on the Liberty Bell Route, and in 1953 the company ended all its remaining rail service. Two years later, the P&W RR was taken over by the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (PSTC), which was more popularly known as the Red Arrow Lines. In 1956, the PSTC abandoned the original branch between Villanova to Strafford, leaving only electric MU trains between 69th Street and Norristown, as it is today. The PSTC was absorbed into SEPTA in 1969, eliminating the original railroad charter and immediately becoming the "Norristown High-Speed Line Trolley", officially known as Route 100.
Most stations (except terminals) are request stop
s. Passengers wishing to board must push a button at the station, which activates a light visible to the engineer. If the train is scheduled to stop at the station (see below), it will stop. Detraining passengers must press a button onboard to request the train to stop.
The fare as of is $2.00 cash on board, or $1.55 using pre-purchased tokens, with an additional $0.50 zone charge when traveling in more than one zone. The service runs seven days a week, from about 5:00 am to 1:00 am at night.
Local trains from 69th Street to Norristown stop at all 22 stations, and the trip lasts approximately 32 minutes. Occasionally, local trains may run only between 69th Street and Bryn Mawr, stopping at ten stations.
During weekday peak periods (6:00–9:00 AM, 2:15–6:45 PM), the Norristown High Speed Line features express and limited services, which stop only at select stations, therefore decreasing travel time between 69th Street and Norristown. Norristown Express service, which is noted by red destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Norristown in approximately 26 minutes, and stops at 17 stations. Hughes Park Express service, which is noted by green destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Hughes Park in approximately 22 minutes, stopping at 16 stations. Norristown Limited service, which is noted by blue destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Norristown in approximately 22 minutes, stopping at only eight stations. There is also one southbound Limited trip on Saturdays. All trains share the same two tracks, so a limited leaving Norristown, for example, will be immediately followed by a local, which stops at more stations, and therefore is spaced farther from the previous train. The next limited will catch up with it. Similarly, a local may leave Bryn Mawr right after an express stops there, and gets to 69th St. just before the next express or limited catches up with it.
There is a to extend the Norristown High Speed Line to serve the King of Prussia Mall
and Valley Forge office parks. The 4.9 miles (7.9 km) extension would branch from the existing line just north of the Hughes Park station, continue westward along the Norfolk Southern Morrisville Line right-of-way, and then northward through King of Prussia to Valley Forge. This extension would include 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of elevated track.
It is projected that this extension would attract an additional 3,800 daily riders. SEPTA already has enough N-5 rail vehicles to cover this extended service. It would also complement the Schuylkill Valley Metro
line that will have a "Cross-County" segment that will also use the Norfolk Southern freight line from King of Prussia to Glenloch near Exton
.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
line system operated between Upper Darby and Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA by SEPTA. The rail line runs entirely on its own right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
, inherited from the original Philadelphia and Western Railroad
Philadelphia and Western Railroad
The Philadelphia and Western Railroad was a high-speed, third rail-operated, commuter-hauling interurban electric railroad operating in the western suburbs of the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of its lines is now SEPTA's R100 Norristown High Speed Line; the other has been abandoned...
line (still referred to by locals as the "old P&W" and Route 100).
The Norristown High Speed Line is unique in its combination of transportation technologies. Originally chartered as a steam railroad, the line is fully grade separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
, collects power from a third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
, and has high-level platforms common to rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
systems, but has onboard fare collection, mostly single-car operation, and frequent stops more common to light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
systems. Previously, the Norristown High Speed Line was considered to be a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line, according to a 2008 SEPTA budget report; however, the line is currently considered a heavy rail interurban line, according to a 2009 SEPTA business plan.
The line was formerly known simply as Route 100 but was officially changed to its current name in September 2009 as part of a customer service initiative by SEPTA.
History
The Norristown High Speed Line began service in 1907 as the Philadelphia and Western RailroadPhiladelphia and Western Railroad
The Philadelphia and Western Railroad was a high-speed, third rail-operated, commuter-hauling interurban electric railroad operating in the western suburbs of the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of its lines is now SEPTA's R100 Norristown High Speed Line; the other has been abandoned...
(P&W), which ran from the present 69th Street Terminal
69th Street Terminal
69th Street Transportation Center is a SEPTA terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It is also the southwestern terminus of Philadelphia's EL, the Market-Frankford Line ....
in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania to a converted farmhouse station in Strafford, Pennsylvania
Strafford, Pennsylvania
Strafford is an unincorporated community in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located partly in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, and partly in Radnor Township, Delaware County. It is served by its own stop on the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train. It is also...
. In 1911, the line was extended .47 mile west to a new Strafford P&W station adjacent to the Pennsylvania RR's Strafford station
Strafford (SEPTA station)
Strafford Station is a commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia atOld Eagle School Road and Crestline Road, Strafford, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line trains....
, allowing easy interchange between the two lines. In 1912, a 6.2-mile branch was constructed from Villanova Junction, .33 mile west of the existing Villanova station, to Norristown. When the newly-built branch quickly attracted more ridership than the Strafford main line, the Norristown section became the main line and the Strafford stretch was demoted to branch status; in the mid 1930s, the Strafford spur was narrowed to a single track for its last 1.74 miles between the Wayne-St. Davids and Strafford stations, while the Norristown line got a sleek new art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
terminus at Main and Swede Streets.
Lehigh Valley connection
From Norristown, the P&W RR connected its tracks with Lehigh Valley Transit Liberty Bell Route to provide direct electric train service from 69th St. Terminal to Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. However, in 1951, the Lehigh Valley Transit Company ended its service on the Liberty Bell Route, and in 1953 the company ended all its remaining rail service. Two years later, the P&W RR was taken over by the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (PSTC), which was more popularly known as the Red Arrow Lines. In 1956, the PSTC abandoned the original branch between Villanova to Strafford, leaving only electric MU trains between 69th Street and Norristown, as it is today. The PSTC was absorbed into SEPTA in 1969, eliminating the original railroad charter and immediately becoming the "Norristown High-Speed Line Trolley", officially known as Route 100.
Ridership
Ridership on the Norristown line peaked in 1973 at 2,860,000 annual linked trips, and again in 1980 with 2,579,000 annual linked trips. Ridership statistics for fiscal years 2000 and later are from SEPTA Annual Service Plans. Data for years 1972 to 1997 are from the SEPTA 1997 Ridership Census. There may be some discrepancy in how the ridership is reported since the Annual Service Plans report total unlinked trips, while the ridership census uses linked trips, which may exclude passengers transferring from other lines.Station Names
Effective June 14, 2010, SEPTA changed the names of four stations to reflect the streets on which they were located.Station list
| Mileage | Station | Zone | Township | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 69th Street Terminal 69th Street Terminal 69th Street Transportation Center is a SEPTA terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It is also the southwestern terminus of Philadelphia's EL, the Market-Frankford Line .... |
1 | Upper Darby Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania Upper Darby Township is a home rule township bordering West Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. Although it retains the term "Township" in its legal name, presumably for historic reasons, it is the largest municipality of any type in Delaware County. Upper Darby is also home to the Tower Theater, a... |
Delaware Delaware County, Pennsylvania Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties.... |
| 0.7 | Parkview | |||
| 1.4 | Township Line Road | Haverford Haverford Township, Pennsylvania Haverford Township is a home rule township in Delaware County, near Philadelphia, in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States. It maintains its legal name as the Township of Haverford, presumably for historic reasons... |
||
| 1.9 | Penfield | |||
| 2.5 | Beechwood–Brookline | |||
| 3.1 | Wynnewood Road | |||
| 3.4 | Ardmore Junction | 1 and 2 | ||
| 3.9 | Ardmore Avenue | |||
| 4.5 | Haverford | |||
| 5.4 | Bryn Mawr | Radnor Radnor Township, Pennsylvania Radnor Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 30,878. Radnor Township lies along the Main Line, a collection of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs.... |
||
| 5.9 | Roberts Road | 2 | ||
| 6.4 | Garrett Hill | |||
| 6.8 | Stadium – Ithan Avenue | |||
| 7.0 | Villanova | |||
| 7.9 | Radnor | |||
| 8.6 | County Line | Lower Merion Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825... |
Montgomery Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part... |
|
| 9.4 | Matsonford | |||
| 10.3 | Gulph Mills | Upper Merion Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania Upper Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 28,395 at the 2010 census.Located from Philadelphia, it consists of the villages of King of Prussia, Swedeland, Swedesburg, Gulph Mills, and Wayne.... |
||
| 11.0 | Hughes Park | |||
| 12.3 | DeKalb Street | Bridgeport Bridgeport, Pennsylvania Bridgeport is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles north of Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. The old-time industries were paper, flour, cotton, and woolen mills, steel works, brickyards, etc. Bridgeport is six miles east of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania... |
||
| 12.8 | Bridgeport | |||
| 13.4 | Norristown Transportation Center Norristown Transportation Center Norristown Transportation Center is a two-level multimodal public transportation regional hub located in Norristown, Pennsylvania and operated by SEPTA... |
Norristown Norristown, Pennsylvania Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County... |
||
Most stations (except terminals) are request stop
Request stop
In public transport, a request stop or flag stop describes a stopping point at which trains or buses stop only on an as-need or request basis; that is, only if there are passengers to be picked up or dropped off. In this way, infrequently used stopping points can be served efficiently.Trains save...
s. Passengers wishing to board must push a button at the station, which activates a light visible to the engineer. If the train is scheduled to stop at the station (see below), it will stop. Detraining passengers must press a button onboard to request the train to stop.
Service
Local trains from 69th Street to Norristown stop at all 22 stations, and the trip lasts approximately 32 minutes. Occasionally, local trains may run only between 69th Street and Bryn Mawr, stopping at ten stations.
During weekday peak periods (6:00–9:00 AM, 2:15–6:45 PM), the Norristown High Speed Line features express and limited services, which stop only at select stations, therefore decreasing travel time between 69th Street and Norristown. Norristown Express service, which is noted by red destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Norristown in approximately 26 minutes, and stops at 17 stations. Hughes Park Express service, which is noted by green destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Hughes Park in approximately 22 minutes, stopping at 16 stations. Norristown Limited service, which is noted by blue destination signs, travels between 69th Street and Norristown in approximately 22 minutes, stopping at only eight stations. There is also one southbound Limited trip on Saturdays. All trains share the same two tracks, so a limited leaving Norristown, for example, will be immediately followed by a local, which stops at more stations, and therefore is spaced farther from the previous train. The next limited will catch up with it. Similarly, a local may leave Bryn Mawr right after an express stops there, and gets to 69th St. just before the next express or limited catches up with it.
| Local | Norristown Express | Hughes Park Express | Norristown Limited |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69th Street Terminal | 69th Street Terminal | 69th Street Terminal | 69th Street Terminal |
| Parkview | — | — | — |
| Township Line Rd. | — | — | — |
| Penfield | Penfield | — | — |
| Beechwood–Brookline | — | Beechwood–Brookline | — |
| Wynnewood Road | — | Wynnewood Road | — |
| Ardmore Junction | Ardmore Junction | Ardmore Junction | Ardmore Junction |
| Ardmore Avenue | — | Ardmore Avenue | — |
| Haverford | — | Haverford | — |
| Bryn Mawr | Bryn Mawr | Bryn Mawr | — |
| Roberts Road | Roberts Road | Roberts Road | — |
| Garrett Hill | Garrett Hill | Garrett Hill | — |
| Ithan Av. | Ithan Av. | Ithan Av. | — |
| Villanova | Villanova | Villanova | — |
| Radnor | Radnor | Radnor | Radnor |
| County Line | County Line | County Line | — |
| Matsonford | Matsonford | Matsonford | — |
| Gulph Mills | Gulph Mills | Gulph Mills | Gulph Mills |
| Hughes Park | Hughes Park | Hughes Park | Hughes Park |
| DeKalb St. | DeKalb St. | — | DeKalb St. |
| Bridgeport | Bridgeport | — | Bridgeport |
| Norristown | Norristown | — | Norristown |
Proposed extension to King of Prussia
King of Prussia Mall
The King of Prussia Mall is the largest shopping mall on the East Coast of the United States, and largest shopping mall in the United States of America in terms of leasable retail space....
and Valley Forge office parks. The 4.9 miles (7.9 km) extension would branch from the existing line just north of the Hughes Park station, continue westward along the Norfolk Southern Morrisville Line right-of-way, and then northward through King of Prussia to Valley Forge. This extension would include 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of elevated track.
It is projected that this extension would attract an additional 3,800 daily riders. SEPTA already has enough N-5 rail vehicles to cover this extended service. It would also complement the Schuylkill Valley Metro
Schuylkill Valley Metro
The Schuylkill Valley Metro was a proposal for a 62-mile railway system that would link Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the city of Reading, Pennsylvania in central Berks County, USA, using the SEPTA Manayunk/Norristown Line and Cynwyd Line, as well as two current freight-only rights-of-way owned...
line that will have a "Cross-County" segment that will also use the Norfolk Southern freight line from King of Prussia to Glenloch near Exton
Exton, Pennsylvania
Exton is a census-designated place in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 4,842 at the 2010 census. The Exton Square Mall is located within Exton along with several other shopping centers, making Exton the major shopping district in Chester...
.
| Fiscal year | Average weekday | Annual passengers |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2005 | 8,801 | 2,512,690 |
| FY 2004 | 8,428 | 2,463,500 |
| FY 2003 | 7,925 | 2,491,074 |
| FY 2000 | 9,250 | 3,046,927 |
| Fiscal year | Annual linked trips | Fiscal year | Annual linked trips | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,754,000 | 1984 | 2,338,000 | |
| 1996 | 1,696,000 | 1983 | 2,484,000 | |
| 1995 | 1,926,000 | 1982 | 2,089,000 | |
| 1994 | 2,079,000 | 1981 | 1,899,000 | |
| 1993 | 2,251,000 | 1980 | 2,579,000 | |
| 1992 | 2,222,000 | 1979 | 2,133,000 | |
| 1991 | 2,234,000 | 1978 | 1,992,000 | |
| 1990 | 2,162,000 | 1977 | 1,832,000 | |
| 1989 | 2,295,000 | 1976 | 2,218,000 | |
| 1988 | 2,185,000 | 1975 | 2,162,000 | |
| 1987 | 1,888,000 | 1974 | 2,425,000 | |
| 1986 | 1,915,000 | 1973 | 2,860,000 | |
| 1985 | 2,255,000 | 1972 | 2,496,000 | |