Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Philadelphia > Regional Rail

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
Regional Rail

Description

The Regional Rail lines are Philadelphia's commuter rail lines (to use American terminology), operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Tranportation Authority There are seven routes:

I understand that the R4 designation is reserved for future use.

The two "halves" of each route were once separate routes, terminating at either the Suburban Station (former Pennsylvania Railroad) or the Reading Terminal (former Reading Railroad). They are now united via a tunnel through central Philadelphia, and the Reading Terminal has been replaced by the underground Market East station.

Most services are electric, with overhead catenary, and use self-propelled cars or trains. Basic service is usually half-hourly or hourly.

Pictures

[R] indicates pictures that have been rescanned beginning in 2006.

[R] [picture] The Market East station, seen from platform level. [February 1996]

[R] [picture] The Market East station, seen from concourse level. [February 1996]

[R] [picture] An R8 train waits at Chestnut Hill West (the end of the line) before returning to central Philadelphia. [February 1996]

[R] [picture] An inbound R8 train passes the Highland station, shortly after leaving its outer terminal at Chestnut Hill West. (In fact, this picture and the one preceding show the same train, and were taken about twenty minutes apart.) [February 1996]

[New, April 2006] [picture] The train shed of the former Reading Terminal is now part of the Philadelphia Convention Center. [February 1996]

This page was last updated on 25 September 2007.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Philadelphia > Regional Rail

This page is © 2006 by Jon Bell (jbell at presby.edu), who is solely responsible for its content. If you're interested in using these pictures, please read my terms of usage.