Fox Chase Line
Encyclopedia
The Fox Chase Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail
(commuter rail) system.
Originally known as the Fox Chase/Newtown Branch, service was truncated in January 1983 from Newtown
to its current terminus in Philadelphia at Fox Chase
due to unreliable train equipment and low ridership. Service expansion beyond Fox Chase to Newtown is currently being discussed by rail proponents (most notably, the Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition
). As of 2009, SEPTA has no plans to restore service beyond Fox Chase.
The former R8 number was applied after the original plan was cancelled due to problems including the Swampoodle Connection
never being built.
at Newtown Junction
, north of the Wayne Junction
station. It runs entirely within the city of Philadelphia except for a section between Olney
and Cheltenham, Pennsylvania which runs along the city border.
The line beyond Newtown Junction was originally opened February 2, 1878 to Newtown
as the Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad
. The line was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad
to block the building of the parallel National Railway
(later the Reading Company
's main line to New York City
). After that failed, it was taken over by the North Pennsylvania Railroad
(which had built the National Railway) on November 22, 1879. By then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, later the Reading Company
, had leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1976 the Reading was merged into Conrail, and in 1983 SEPTA took over commuter rail operations.
The Fox Chase/Newtown Line was originally intended to be the R4, which would have continued as the Bryn Mawr
local, while the R5 would have run express to Bryn Mawr and local to points west.
, Hatboro/Warminster
, Manayunk/Norristown
, Chestnut Hill East
, West Trenton
). As part of the Philadelphia subsidy program, the line was electrified as far as Fox Chase (the Philadelphia city line) on September 25, 1966. Ridership on the line increased dramatically with the completion of electrification. As a result of this success, plans were made in the early 1970s to extend electrification to the line's actual terminus in Newtown
, using funds supplied by both Montgomery
and Bucks Counties
. Had the electrification plans come to fruition, the Walnut Hill Station
would have been closed, and trains would have operated non-stop from Fox Chase to Huntingdon Valley
. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allocated $2.2 million to electrify the line in 1979, but these funds were diverted to other projects in the region.
along non-electrified track utilizing Budd RDC
trains until July 1, 1981. In anticipation of SEPTA operating all electrified Philadelphia commuter lines by 1983 (as well as already owning them), the authority decided to experiment with operating railroad lines using City Transit Division operators instead of traditional railroad workers as a cost-saving measure. SEPTA initiated operation of the Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line on Monday, October 5, 1981. Due to mechanical issues with the trains and decreasing ridership, service on the line ended January 14, 1983.
") in place of train service "until electrification of the railroad occurs in the Bucks and Philadelphia Counties." Public hearings were held on July 11, 1983, in which outraged, displaced riders questioned SEPTA's reasoning for not utilizing the repaired RDC units (unaware of the lobbying effort made by the transit division). The publication of the July 1983 Fox Chase-Newtown Line timetable made the bus replacement a reality. By December 1983, SEPTA had sold several RDC units to Boston's MBTA
, the Alaska Railroad
and VIA Rail Canada, many which are still in use as of 2010.
The Fox Chase-Newtown Shuttle bus operated from 1983 to 1999, with patronage remaining light. The replacement service was far slower and less convenient than the train service it replaced, resulting in the shuttle bus being poorly patronized. The traveling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service that operated more efficiently.
In July 1983, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania once again allocated $2.2 million to complete electrification to Newtown by 1984. SEPTA elected not to utilize the funds for the project, per PennDOT: "Senate Bill 666 and the corresponding Capital Budget ACT 38 of 83 were enacted, and they included a line item of $2,400,000 for the Newtown rail line. After the capital budget authorized funds, SEPTA as the grant recipient, was then responsible to make an application for a grant to utilize the funds. In this case, no application was made by SEPTA for the line item regarding a Newtown rail line."
SEPTA management was criticized for the termination of service beyond Fox Chase. Noted international transit expert and University of Pennsylvania
professor Vukan Vuchic (who also designed the former R-numbering system for SEPTA) commented that he had never seen a transit agency the size of SEPTA "cut transit services quite as drastically as SEPTA. For a system that is already obsolete, any more cutbacks would be disastrous—and likely spell doom for transit in the Philadelphia region."
Though service was suspended indefinitely, SEPTA spent a significant amount of money throughout the 1980s (in order to comply with a federal grant) to perform extensive track upgrades.
All road crossings
received new welded rail, which were secured using sturdy Pandrol clips
vs. traditional rail spikes.
SEPTA also installed new SEPTA-friendly station signs and "lollipop" street signs at all regional rail stops, including those along the Fox Chase-Newtown line. The "lollipop" signs have since been removed but some of the other signage remains at Newtown
, Churchville
and Bryn Athyn
. In addition, SEPTA maps printed in 1984 and 1989 retained the Fox Chase-Newtown segment, with a caveat
stating "Temporary Bus Shuttle between Fox Chase and Newtown" (as of 2009, several of these outdated maps can still be found throughout the SEPTA system).
was considered, with a test run reaching Newtown on September 3. Though the trial runs were relatively successful, ride quality was lackluster. Burdened with ongoing budgetary problems, SEPTA decided against the purchase of the railbuses. September 1985 would be the last time a train traversed the Fox Chase-Newtown line.
would not be interested. The latter scenario included two options:
The study was well received by Bucks County Commissioners and local townships along the line. However, nothing further came of it and line remained dormant.
(FTA) funding formula, but previous FTA formulas increased a region's funding as rail route mileage increased. Continuation of this policy would mean that the Newtown service would have generated increased federal subsidy, but SEPTA would keep that subsidy for itself.
SEPTA's request for proposal (RFP) stated that their objective in leasing the Fox Chase-Newtown line was to facilitate connecting service with its regional rail operation. However, when asked what recourse will RMS be offered if SEPTA does not maintain good on-time performance on the West Trenton or Warminster lines, impacting RMS's ridership, SEPTA responded "This arrangement will be included in the lease negotiation process." DVARP commented that RMS on what is "ostensibly a shuttle service between Newtown and Fox Chase would not know the rules of the Fox Chase transfer game until after they are chosen."
An attachment to the minutes of the pre-proposal meeting included several of the original deeds of the Reading Company
Trustee transferring the property to Conrail in the late 1970s. It was later revealed that that Reading Company Trustee deeds for the Newtown Line property in Bucks County were missing. SEPTA holds the Newtown line property on a quitclaim deed
from Conrail—a legal instrument used to release one person's right, title or interest to another without providing a guarantee or warranty of title. SEPTA later informed RMS that it will not indemnify the contractor in the event of a challenge to the Conrail/SEPTA quitclaim deed.
Rail advocates hoped that the Fox Chase-Newtown privatization would be a first in bringing much needed competition to SEPTA. RMS was being asked to compete with subsidized Warminster and West Trenton line services for the park-and-ride commuter market while possibly generating additional FTA dollars for SEPTA. DVARP later commented that "the deal SEPTA is offering private contractors to operate the Newtown Line is similar to that of the garbage man who was hired on an all-you-can-eat basis. Imagine investing 1/2 million in a new Bethayres crossing; assorted hundreds of thousands in grade crossings, signaling, track, ties (all of which becomes the property of your landlord); as well as the costs of acquiring and maintaining equipment, without the right to enjoy the same government subsidies as your chief competitor next door (who, incidently, is your landlord)."
In December 1992, SEPTA held a pre-bid conference for parties interested in operating a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle service. The selected operator was to receive a stipend from SEPTA annually equivalent to the losses that SEPTA incurred operated the poor performing Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus. SEPTA also agreed to pass through the FTA "fixed guideway" formula subsidies which begin approximately two years after a rail or trackless trolley line starts operations. The expected annual amount was slated at $800,000. As an added bonus, the selected operator had the potential to be awarded a matchable $1.2 million grant Bucks County had designated for the railroad's capital needs.
line between Newtown and Byberry Road. This plan would have required considerable investment to convert the dilapidated railbed and bridges from rail use to bus use. Public input on this plan was unfavorable, as was the 85-minute commute to Center City vs. running under one hour on the nearby Warminster and West Trenton lines. The concept was rated "unfeasible" for those reasons. The study did determine, however, even with the long trip time compared to neighboring rail lines, that this operation would have generated 2,100 new transit riders.
section through the wooded Pennypack Creek valley for use as an interim extension of the existing Pennypack Trail. SEPTA received $1 for the lease, railbanking the line for future mass transit related uses. SEPTA has the right to revert the line back to transit use with one year's notice to the county. The trail is not officially a rail trail
associated with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
in Washington, D.C.
.
The section of the line currently occupied by the interim trail has historically been a hotbed for political upheaval. Population near this portion of the line in Montgomery County has always been sparse, and there were few stations (Walnut Hill, Huntingdon Valley, Bryn Athyn, Woodmont) that served passengers when trains operated. Despite small originating ridership, the county was assessed much of the route's operating cost. As such, opposition within official county circles to subsidize operation existed as far back as the mid-1970s. Proposals were floated around at that time to install a track connection where the line crosses the West Trenton route near Bethayres, and to abandon the stretch of track between Fox Chase and the West Trenton line. The existence of the trail essentially carried out this plan, minus the benefit of the West Trenton connection. This is unfortunate, as even in its dormant state, the Newtown Branch is the shorter and more favorable route to the West Trenton line junction, as rush hour rail traffic through the Jenkintown/Wyncote bottleneck remains heavy.
PA-TEC's efforts have received support by both Bucks and Montgomery County officials, as well as at the state level, despite SEPTA's overall reservations. SEPTA has also confirmed that they are indeed open to revisiting the line if there is strong political support in both counties.
SEPTA rejected PA-TEC's request, believing the benefits of such "signage was deemed non-existent, since SEPTA's rights to the out-of-service rights-of-way (ROW) are clearly protected as matters of real estate/railroad law, as well as the individual lease with the County. The same would apply to any other recreational trails presently being used by municipalities over SEPTA out-of-service railroad ROW's." SEPTA concluded that the expense of installing signs, "no matter how small, for the sole purpose of demarcating SEPTA's otherwise well established legal ownership rights in the ROW, cannot be financially justified." This position was echoed by Rina Cutler, Philadelphia Deputy Mayor of Transportation.
PA-TEC responded in the press by calling SEPTA's response "an act resembling Pontius Pilate
", stating that SEPTA was "going against their enabling legislation per Pennsylvania State Law." PA-TEC added that SEPTA "has washed their hands of the Fox Chase/Newtown line by refusing to associate their name with it in public. Without any analysis, SEPTA has rejected a taxpayer funded federal study that provides specific recommendations that best preserve dormant railways." PA-TEC added that they were "concerned that SEPTA is creating an additional constituency resistant to putting rails on a (SEPTA) owned ROW, in this case the trail users," concluding that "the trail use will create an additional avenue of resistance even for those who would never be trail users. NIMBY
s... will be avid trail users, not for the sake of the trail, but to prevent rail use."
On July 25, 2010 SEPTA renamed the service from the R8 Fox Chase to the Fox Chase Line as part of system-wide service change that eliminated the R-number naming system.
Boardings are for fiscal year 2010. Data for Temple University and Wayne Junction includes all lines serving those stations.
SEPTA Regional Rail
The SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
(commuter rail) system.
Originally known as the Fox Chase/Newtown Branch, service was truncated in January 1983 from Newtown
Newtown (SEPTA station)
Newtown is a closed station and terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Penn Street in Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania.-History:In the railroad's original plans, the line was to continue to the north, but this expansion was never built. Newtown Station was built in 1873 and torn down in...
to its current terminus in Philadelphia at Fox Chase
Fox Chase (SEPTA station)
Fox Chase is the current terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase Line. It is located just west of the intersection of Rhawn Street and Rockwell Avenue in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania...
due to unreliable train equipment and low ridership. Service expansion beyond Fox Chase to Newtown is currently being discussed by rail proponents (most notably, the Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition
Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition
The Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition is a network of transit advocates who promote responsible investment in transit expansion. The organization's goal is to work with local transit organizations to redirect limited transportation funding to investment in expanding rail-based transit in...
). As of 2009, SEPTA has no plans to restore service beyond Fox Chase.
The former R8 number was applied after the original plan was cancelled due to problems including the Swampoodle Connection
Swampoodle Connection
The Swampoodle Connection was a proposed connection of the present-day Chestnut Hill West Line with the Manayunk/Norristown Line in the Swampoodle neighborhood in Philadelphia...
never being built.
Reading Company/Conrail years
The Fox Chase Line branches from the SEPTA Main LineSEPTA Main Line
The SEPTA Main Line is the section of the SEPTA Regional Rail system from the Zoo Interlocking in West Philadelphia to Lansdale Station in Lansdale, Pennsylvania...
at Newtown Junction
Newtown Junction
Newtown Junction is the rail junction point where the Newtown Branch joins the SEPTA Main Line. The Warminster Line, West Trenton Line, and Lansdale/Doylestown Line all continue north toward Fern Rock along the old Reading trunk while the Fox Chase heads east toward Olney...
, north of the Wayne Junction
Wayne Junction (SEPTA station)
Wayne Junction is a SEPTA Regional Rail station located at 4481 Wayne Avenue, extending along Windrim Avenue to Germantown Avenue, bordering the Nicetown and Germantown neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Station:...
station. It runs entirely within the city of Philadelphia except for a section between Olney
Olney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Olney is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is roughly bounded by the Roosevelt Boulevard to the south, Tacony Creek to the east, Godfrey Avenue to the north, and the railroad right-of-way west of Sixth Street to the west.Although...
and Cheltenham, Pennsylvania which runs along the city border.
The line beyond Newtown Junction was originally opened February 2, 1878 to Newtown
Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Newtown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2010 census. It is located just west of the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan area, and is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is entirely surrounded by Newtown Township, from which...
as the Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad
Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad
The Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Pennsylvania that is now a part of the SEPTA commuter rail system...
. The line was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
to block the building of the parallel National Railway
National Railway
The National Railway or National Air Line Railroad was a planned railroad between New York City and Washington, D.C. in the United States around 1870...
(later the Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
's main line to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). After that failed, it was taken over by the North Pennsylvania Railroad
North Pennsylvania Railroad
North Pennsylvania Railroad was a railroad company formed in 1855, and served Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Northampton County, Pennsylvania.-History:...
(which had built the National Railway) on November 22, 1879. By then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, later the Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
, had leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1976 the Reading was merged into Conrail, and in 1983 SEPTA took over commuter rail operations.
The Fox Chase/Newtown Line was originally intended to be the R4, which would have continued as the Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr (SEPTA station)
Bryn Mawr Station is an above-ground commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at Morris and Bryn Mawr Avenues in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line trains with the exception of a few "limited" and express trains.The ticket office at this...
local, while the R5 would have run express to Bryn Mawr and local to points west.
Fox Chase to Newtown
The Reading Company bypassed the Fox Chase Line when they electrified their five other suburban lines in the 1930s (Lansdale/DoylestownLansdale/Doylestown Line
The Lansdale/Doylestown Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to Doylestown in Bucks County.-Route:The Lansdale-Doylestown segment of the R5 line utilizes what is known as the "SEPTA Main Line", a four-track line that has been owned by SEPTA since 1983...
, Hatboro/Warminster
Warminster Line
The Warminster Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail commuter rail. It serves stations between its namesake town, Warminster, and Center City, Philadelphia...
, Manayunk/Norristown
Manayunk/Norristown Line
The Manayunk/Norristown Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to the Elm Street station in Norristown, Montgomery County.-Route:...
, Chestnut Hill East
Chestnut Hill East Line
The Chestnut Hill East Line , is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail system. The route serves the northwestern section of Philadelphia with service to Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill...
, West Trenton
West Trenton Line (SEPTA)
The West Trenton Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to West Trenton, New Jersey.-Route:The West Trenton Line connects Center City, Philadelphia with the West Trenton section of Ewing, New Jersey...
). As part of the Philadelphia subsidy program, the line was electrified as far as Fox Chase (the Philadelphia city line) on September 25, 1966. Ridership on the line increased dramatically with the completion of electrification. As a result of this success, plans were made in the early 1970s to extend electrification to the line's actual terminus in Newtown
Newtown (SEPTA station)
Newtown is a closed station and terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Penn Street in Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania.-History:In the railroad's original plans, the line was to continue to the north, but this expansion was never built. Newtown Station was built in 1873 and torn down in...
, using funds supplied by both 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...
and Bucks Counties
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
. Had the electrification plans come to fruition, the Walnut Hill Station
Walnut Hill (SEPTA station)
Walnut Hill is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Moredon Road in Abington Township, Pennsylvania.-History:...
would have been closed, and trains would have operated non-stop from Fox Chase to Huntingdon Valley
Huntingdon Valley (SEPTA station)
Huntingdon Valley is a closed train station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Terwood Road near Old Welsh Road in Lower Moreland, Pennsylvania, not far from the Pennypack Creek.-History:...
. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allocated $2.2 million to electrify the line in 1979, but these funds were diverted to other projects in the region.
Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line
Fox Chase trains continued to Newtown, PennsylvaniaNewtown (SEPTA station)
Newtown is a closed station and terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Penn Street in Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania.-History:In the railroad's original plans, the line was to continue to the north, but this expansion was never built. Newtown Station was built in 1873 and torn down in...
along non-electrified track utilizing Budd RDC
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
trains until July 1, 1981. In anticipation of SEPTA operating all electrified Philadelphia commuter lines by 1983 (as well as already owning them), the authority decided to experiment with operating railroad lines using City Transit Division operators instead of traditional railroad workers as a cost-saving measure. SEPTA initiated operation of the Fox Chase Rapid Transit Line on Monday, October 5, 1981. Due to mechanical issues with the trains and decreasing ridership, service on the line ended January 14, 1983.
Bustitution
By March 1983, SEPTA had repaired several of the RDC units and were ready to resume Fox Chase-Newtown service. However, SEPTA Surface Transportation General Manager Robert Rhoades (whose staff was operating the temporary bus service while the RDCs were inoperable) lobbied hard to keep the work for city transit bus drivers. Tariff No. 167 was proposed on April 14, 1983 by SEPTA's Chief Operations Officer to officially establish a Fox Chase-Newtown Shuttle Bus (known as "bustitutionBustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
") in place of train service "until electrification of the railroad occurs in the Bucks and Philadelphia Counties." Public hearings were held on July 11, 1983, in which outraged, displaced riders questioned SEPTA's reasoning for not utilizing the repaired RDC units (unaware of the lobbying effort made by the transit division). The publication of the July 1983 Fox Chase-Newtown Line timetable made the bus replacement a reality. By December 1983, SEPTA had sold several RDC units to Boston's MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
, the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
and VIA Rail Canada, many which are still in use as of 2010.
The Fox Chase-Newtown Shuttle bus operated from 1983 to 1999, with patronage remaining light. The replacement service was far slower and less convenient than the train service it replaced, resulting in the shuttle bus being poorly patronized. The traveling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service that operated more efficiently.
SEPTA forgoes approved funding for electrification
Since bustitution took effect in 1983, there has been continued interest in reviving passenger service through to Newtown.In July 1983, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania once again allocated $2.2 million to complete electrification to Newtown by 1984. SEPTA elected not to utilize the funds for the project, per PennDOT: "Senate Bill 666 and the corresponding Capital Budget ACT 38 of 83 were enacted, and they included a line item of $2,400,000 for the Newtown rail line. After the capital budget authorized funds, SEPTA as the grant recipient, was then responsible to make an application for a grant to utilize the funds. In this case, no application was made by SEPTA for the line item regarding a Newtown rail line."
SEPTA management was criticized for the termination of service beyond Fox Chase. Noted international transit expert and University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
professor Vukan Vuchic (who also designed the former R-numbering system for SEPTA) commented that he had never seen a transit agency the size of SEPTA "cut transit services quite as drastically as SEPTA. For a system that is already obsolete, any more cutbacks would be disastrous—and likely spell doom for transit in the Philadelphia region."
Though service was suspended indefinitely, SEPTA spent a significant amount of money throughout the 1980s (in order to comply with a federal grant) to perform extensive track upgrades.
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
received new welded rail, which were secured using sturdy Pandrol clips
Pandrol
Pandrol is a British company, which manufactures clips used on rail tracks.- Overview :The was patented in 1957 by a Norwegian railways engineer, Per Pande Rolfsen. Nowadays it is common worldwide. Pandrol has manufacturing plants in 12 countries and 82 markets. Over 240 railway systems in 91...
vs. traditional rail spikes.
SEPTA also installed new SEPTA-friendly station signs and "lollipop" street signs at all regional rail stops, including those along the Fox Chase-Newtown line. The "lollipop" signs have since been removed but some of the other signage remains at Newtown
Newtown (SEPTA station)
Newtown is a closed station and terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Penn Street in Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania.-History:In the railroad's original plans, the line was to continue to the north, but this expansion was never built. Newtown Station was built in 1873 and torn down in...
, Churchville
Churchville (SEPTA station)
Churchville is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Knowles Avenue and Bustleton Pike in Churchville, Pennsylvania...
and Bryn Athyn
Bryn Athyn (SEPTA station)
Bryn Athyn is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Fetters Mill Road in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania near the Pennypack Creek.-History:Bryn Athyn Station, built in 1902, was a stop on the Reading Railroad's Newtown Line...
. In addition, SEPTA maps printed in 1984 and 1989 retained the Fox Chase-Newtown segment, with a caveat
Caveat
Caveat , the third-person singular present subjunctive of the Latin cavere, means "warning" ; it can be shorthand for Latin phrases such as:...
stating "Temporary Bus Shuttle between Fox Chase and Newtown" (as of 2009, several of these outdated maps can still be found throughout the SEPTA system).
Village Shires Station construction
A residential development called Village Shires was built in the Holland section of Northampton Township in close proximity to the Fox Chase-Newtown line in 1981. As part of a private developer/Northampton Township/SEPTA agreement, ground was broken for the construction of a new station, complete with 82 new parking spaces and high platforms. Concrete supports were actually installed by the private developer between Buck and Stonyford Roads in anticipation of the station construction. However, with the cessation of train service in January 1983, no further work was performed at the station site, though Village Shires Station (sometimes labeled Village Shires/Buck Road) appeared on publicly posted SEPTA maps in 1984 and 1989.1985: BRE-Leyland diesel railbuses
In March 1985, a $10 million plan to restore service to Newtown and Pottstown using British BRE-Leyland Diesel railbusesBritish Rail Railbuses
British Rail produced a variety of Railbuses as a means both of building new rolling stock cheaply, and to provide services on lightly used lines economically.-Terminology:...
was considered, with a test run reaching Newtown on September 3. Though the trial runs were relatively successful, ride quality was lackluster. Burdened with ongoing budgetary problems, SEPTA decided against the purchase of the railbuses. September 1985 would be the last time a train traversed the Fox Chase-Newtown line.
1987: First privatization ideas
In March 1987, SEPTA received several bids from private operators interested in running diesel-hauled trains to Newtown (as well as between Norristown-Pottstown. The operators suggested using non-union workers, which SEPTA was against. In addition, funding for these operations was allegedly questionable, and the SEPTA board rejected all offers.SEPTA 1991 study
In 1991, SEPTA issued a detailed, proactive study outlining a realistic operating plan. The study, entitled A New Look at Restoration of Rail Service to Newtown, took into consideration all aspects of the line, including station parking, current track infrastructure (which had begun to deteriorate), electrification, and the possibility that Montgomery CountyMontgomery 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...
would not be interested. The latter scenario included two options:
- Newtown to Center City Philadelphia via Fox Chase, with no stops in Montgomery County
- Newtown to Center City Philadelphia via Bethayres/Jenkintown-WyncoteJenkintown-Wyncote (SEPTA station)Jenkintown–Wyncote is a SEPTA Regional Rail station along the SEPTA Main Line. It is located at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and West Avenue in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.-Station:...
, with no stops in Montgomery County and bypassing Abington TownshipAbington Township, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaAbington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
and Rockledge BoroughRockledge, PennsylvaniaRockledge is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,543 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Rockledge is located at ....
entirely
The study was well received by Bucks County Commissioners and local townships along the line. However, nothing further came of it and line remained dormant.
1991–1992: Privatization
Rail Management Service, Inc. (RMS), a private railway operator, expressed interest in operating diesel trains over the line in late 1991. SEPTA required RMS to upgrade and maintain all railway infrastructure with the intent to operate train service to compete with SEPTA's Warminster and West Trenton, but without receiving any government subsidies. The Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers (DVARP) researched a possible new Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
(FTA) funding formula, but previous FTA formulas increased a region's funding as rail route mileage increased. Continuation of this policy would mean that the Newtown service would have generated increased federal subsidy, but SEPTA would keep that subsidy for itself.
SEPTA's request for proposal (RFP) stated that their objective in leasing the Fox Chase-Newtown line was to facilitate connecting service with its regional rail operation. However, when asked what recourse will RMS be offered if SEPTA does not maintain good on-time performance on the West Trenton or Warminster lines, impacting RMS's ridership, SEPTA responded "This arrangement will be included in the lease negotiation process." DVARP commented that RMS on what is "ostensibly a shuttle service between Newtown and Fox Chase would not know the rules of the Fox Chase transfer game until after they are chosen."
An attachment to the minutes of the pre-proposal meeting included several of the original deeds of the Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
Trustee transferring the property to Conrail in the late 1970s. It was later revealed that that Reading Company Trustee deeds for the Newtown Line property in Bucks County were missing. SEPTA holds the Newtown line property on a quitclaim deed
Quitclaim deed
A quitclaim deed is a legal instrument by which the owner of a piece of real property, called the grantor, transfers his interest to a recipient, called the grantee. The owner/grantor terminates his right and claim to the property, thereby allowing claim to transfer to the...
from Conrail—a legal instrument used to release one person's right, title or interest to another without providing a guarantee or warranty of title. SEPTA later informed RMS that it will not indemnify the contractor in the event of a challenge to the Conrail/SEPTA quitclaim deed.
Rail advocates hoped that the Fox Chase-Newtown privatization would be a first in bringing much needed competition to SEPTA. RMS was being asked to compete with subsidized Warminster and West Trenton line services for the park-and-ride commuter market while possibly generating additional FTA dollars for SEPTA. DVARP later commented that "the deal SEPTA is offering private contractors to operate the Newtown Line is similar to that of the garbage man who was hired on an all-you-can-eat basis. Imagine investing 1/2 million in a new Bethayres crossing; assorted hundreds of thousands in grade crossings, signaling, track, ties (all of which becomes the property of your landlord); as well as the costs of acquiring and maintaining equipment, without the right to enjoy the same government subsidies as your chief competitor next door (who, incidently, is your landlord)."
In December 1992, SEPTA held a pre-bid conference for parties interested in operating a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle service. The selected operator was to receive a stipend from SEPTA annually equivalent to the losses that SEPTA incurred operated the poor performing Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus. SEPTA also agreed to pass through the FTA "fixed guideway" formula subsidies which begin approximately two years after a rail or trackless trolley line starts operations. The expected annual amount was slated at $800,000. As an added bonus, the selected operator had the potential to be awarded a matchable $1.2 million grant Bucks County had designated for the railroad's capital needs.
2006 Bus Rapid Transit study
In 2006, the Bucks and Montgomery County planning commissions studied the option of converting the Newtown line into a bus rapid transitBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line between Newtown and Byberry Road. This plan would have required considerable investment to convert the dilapidated railbed and bridges from rail use to bus use. Public input on this plan was unfavorable, as was the 85-minute commute to Center City vs. running under one hour on the nearby Warminster and West Trenton lines. The concept was rated "unfeasible" for those reasons. The study did determine, however, even with the long trip time compared to neighboring rail lines, that this operation would have generated 2,100 new transit riders.
Pennypack Trail
On March 28, 2008, Montgomery County agreed to lease the section of track transversing Abington Township's Ward 2Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
section through the wooded Pennypack Creek valley for use as an interim extension of the existing Pennypack Trail. SEPTA received $1 for the lease, railbanking the line for future mass transit related uses. SEPTA has the right to revert the line back to transit use with one year's notice to the county. The trail is not officially a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
associated with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is an American nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into rail trails within the United States of America...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
The section of the line currently occupied by the interim trail has historically been a hotbed for political upheaval. Population near this portion of the line in Montgomery County has always been sparse, and there were few stations (Walnut Hill, Huntingdon Valley, Bryn Athyn, Woodmont) that served passengers when trains operated. Despite small originating ridership, the county was assessed much of the route's operating cost. As such, opposition within official county circles to subsidize operation existed as far back as the mid-1970s. Proposals were floated around at that time to install a track connection where the line crosses the West Trenton route near Bethayres, and to abandon the stretch of track between Fox Chase and the West Trenton line. The existence of the trail essentially carried out this plan, minus the benefit of the West Trenton connection. This is unfortunate, as even in its dormant state, the Newtown Branch is the shorter and more favorable route to the West Trenton line junction, as rush hour rail traffic through the Jenkintown/Wyncote bottleneck remains heavy.
2009: PA-TEC
In September 2009, the Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition (PA-TEC) began discussions with township officials along the railway, as well as SEPTA officials, about the realistic possibility of resuming even minimal passenger service to relieve traffic congestion in the region. Plans call for completing the electrification to Newtown, as originally planned in the late 1970s.PA-TEC's efforts have received support by both Bucks and Montgomery County officials, as well as at the state level, despite SEPTA's overall reservations. SEPTA has also confirmed that they are indeed open to revisiting the line if there is strong political support in both counties.
Pennypack Trail Signage request
In March 2011, PA-TEC requested that SEPTA consider demarking the rail corridor currently occupied by the interim Pennypack Trail with signage. PA-TEC asked to work with the transit agency on this project, in hopes of keeping the dormant rail line in the public eye. Their request was based on a federal study completed by the National Transportation Research Board in 2007, which stated that such signage gives "notice to adjacent landowners and the public generally that an interim period of low-impact or recreational use does not proscribe future development of active passenger or freight rail activity. Provisions may include large, conspicuous signage along the trail alignments and/or disclosure requirements for adjoining property sale transactions that make clear the potential future use of the [rail] corridors in question."SEPTA rejected PA-TEC's request, believing the benefits of such "signage was deemed non-existent, since SEPTA's rights to the out-of-service rights-of-way (ROW) are clearly protected as matters of real estate/railroad law, as well as the individual lease with the County. The same would apply to any other recreational trails presently being used by municipalities over SEPTA out-of-service railroad ROW's." SEPTA concluded that the expense of installing signs, "no matter how small, for the sole purpose of demarcating SEPTA's otherwise well established legal ownership rights in the ROW, cannot be financially justified." This position was echoed by Rina Cutler, Philadelphia Deputy Mayor of Transportation.
PA-TEC responded in the press by calling SEPTA's response "an act resembling Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
", stating that SEPTA was "going against their enabling legislation per Pennsylvania State Law." PA-TEC added that SEPTA "has washed their hands of the Fox Chase/Newtown line by refusing to associate their name with it in public. Without any analysis, SEPTA has rejected a taxpayer funded federal study that provides specific recommendations that best preserve dormant railways." PA-TEC added that they were "concerned that SEPTA is creating an additional constituency resistant to putting rails on a (SEPTA) owned ROW, in this case the trail users," concluding that "the trail use will create an additional avenue of resistance even for those who would never be trail users. NIMBY
NIMBY
NIMBY or Nimby is an acronym for the phrase "not in my back yard". The term is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them. Opposing residents themselves are sometimes called Nimbies...
s... will be avid trail users, not for the sake of the trail, but to prevent rail use."
Name change
Station stops
Fox Chase trains make the following station stops after leaving Market East Station:| Zone | Milepost | Station | Boardings | City/Township | County | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2.1 | Temple University Temple University (SEPTA station) Temple University station is an above-ground SEPTA Regional Rail station located at the eastern edge of the Temple University campus at 915 West Berks Street between 9th and 10th Streets, in North Philadelphia.-Station:... |
3122 | Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... |
all lines | |
| 1 | 5.1 | Wayne Junction Wayne Junction (SEPTA station) Wayne Junction is a SEPTA Regional Rail station located at 4481 Wayne Avenue, extending along Windrim Avenue to Germantown Avenue, bordering the Nicetown and Germantown neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Station:... |
628 | Warminster Line Warminster Line The Warminster Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail commuter rail. It serves stations between its namesake town, Warminster, and Center City, Philadelphia... , West Trenton Line West Trenton Line (SEPTA) The West Trenton Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to West Trenton, New Jersey.-Route:The West Trenton Line connects Center City, Philadelphia with the West Trenton section of Ewing, New Jersey... , Lansdale/Doylestown Line Lansdale/Doylestown Line The Lansdale/Doylestown Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to Doylestown in Bucks County.-Route:The Lansdale-Doylestown segment of the R5 line utilizes what is known as the "SEPTA Main Line", a four-track line that has been owned by SEPTA since 1983... , Chestnut Hill East Line Chestnut Hill East Line The Chestnut Hill East Line , is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail system. The route serves the northwestern section of Philadelphia with service to Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill... |
||
| 7.3 | Olney Olney (SEPTA station) Olney is a station located along the SEPTA Fox Chase Line, and serves the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia. It is located at Mascher Street and Tabor Road and has a 61-space parking lot.... |
148 | ||||
| 8.3 | Crescentville | 0 | station closed | |||
| 2 | 9.0 | Lawndale Lawndale (SEPTA station) Lawndale is a station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase Line. It is located at Robbins and Newtown Avenues and serves the Lawndale neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. The station has a small shelter and has no parking lot.... |
230 | |||
| 9.7 | Cheltenham Cheltenham (SEPTA station) Cheltenham is a station located along the SEPTA Regional Rail Fox Chase Line. It is located at Old Soldiers Road and Hasbrook Avenue and has a 17-space parking lot.... |
284 | ||||
| 10.1 | Ryers Ryers (SEPTA station) Ryers is a station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase Line. It is located at Cottman and Rockwell Avenues and has a 71-space parking lot. The station itself consists of an asphalt platform and a small shelter.- External links :* * *... |
347 | Cottman Avenue | |||
| 11.1 | Fox Chase Fox Chase (SEPTA station) Fox Chase is the current terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase Line. It is located just west of the intersection of Rhawn Street and Rockwell Avenue in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania... |
1260 | terminus since 1983; end of electrification | |||
| 12.8 | Walnut Hill Walnut Hill (SEPTA station) Walnut Hill is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Moredon Road in Abington Township, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Abington Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's... |
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... |
site of Pennypack Trail | ||
| 14.4 | Huntingdon Valley Huntingdon Valley (SEPTA station) Huntingdon Valley is a closed train station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Terwood Road near Old Welsh Road in Lower Moreland, Pennsylvania, not far from the Pennypack Creek.-History:... |
Lower Moreland Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania Lower Moreland Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,982 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
shelter demolished | |||
| 15.1 | Bryn Athyn Bryn Athyn (SEPTA station) Bryn Athyn is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Fetters Mill Road in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania near the Pennypack Creek.-History:Bryn Athyn Station, built in 1902, was a stop on the Reading Railroad's Newtown Line... |
Bryn Athyn Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania Bryn Athyn is a home rule municipality, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formerly a borough, and its official name remains "Borough of Bryn Athyn". The population was 1,375 at the 2010 census... |
Station still exists (now U.S. post office) | |||
| 17.2 | Woodmont Woodmont (SEPTA station) Woodmont is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line, located on Byberry Road and Reading Way in Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Lower Moreland Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania Lower Moreland Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,982 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
Station closed 1965, shelter demolished | |||
| 18.0 | County Line County Line (SEPTA station) County Line is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on County Line Road near New Road in Upper Southampton, Pennsylvania near the County Line Industrial Park.-History:... |
Upper Southampton Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania Upper Southampton Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,152 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... |
Bucks Bucks County, Pennsylvania - Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by... |
shelter demolished | ||
| 18.9 | Southampton Southampton (SEPTA station) Southampton is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Second Street Pike near Knowles Avenue in Upper Southampton, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Station still exists, currently undergoing restortation | ||||
| 20.8 | Churchville Churchville (SEPTA station) Churchville is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Knowles Avenue and Bustleton Pike in Churchville, Pennsylvania... |
Northampton Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Northampton Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, about 12 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The population was 39,726 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
Station still exists (used by private business) | |||
| 22.4 | Holland Holland (SEPTA station) Holland is a derelict station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Holland Road in Holland, Pennsylvania near the Churchville Reservoir.-History:... |
shelter demolished | ||||
| 25.0 | George School George School (SEPTA station) George School is a closed railroad station located along SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located at George School, a private Quaker boarding and day high school in Middletown, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Middletown Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Middletown Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 45,436 at the 2010 census. Many sections of Levittown, Pennsylvania, are located in the southern end of the township... |
shelter demolished | |||
| 26.3 | Newtown Newtown (SEPTA station) Newtown is a closed station and terminus of SEPTA's Fox Chase/Newtown Line located on Penn Street in Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania.-History:In the railroad's original plans, the line was to continue to the north, but this expansion was never built. Newtown Station was built in 1873 and torn down in... |
Newtown Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Newtown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2010 census. It is located just west of the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan area, and is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is entirely surrounded by Newtown Township, from which... |
shelter demolished | |||
Boardings are for fiscal year 2010. Data for Temple University and Wayne Junction includes all lines serving those stations.
| Fiscal year | Average weekday | Annual passengers |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2010 | 5,299 | 1,422,864 |
| FY 2009 | 5,040 | 1,353,827 |
| FY 2008 | 5,435 | 1,459,300 |
| FY 2005 | 4,646 | 1,245,763 |
| FY 2004 | 4,130 | 1,159,397 |
| FY 2003 | 4,621 | 1,150,400 |
| FY 2001 | n/a | 1,221,000 |
| FY 2000 | n/a | 1,273,000 |
| FY 1999 | n/a | 1,186,000 |
| FY 1997 | n/a | 1,218,268 |
| FY 1996 | n/a | 1,184,561 |
| FY 1995 | 3,922 | 1,099,953 |
| FY 1994 | 3,574 | 732,733 |
| FY 1993 | 2,813 | 442,155 |
| Note: n/a = not available | ||