Silver Line (Pittsburgh)


The Silver Line is the renamed service for the former Pittsburgh Light Rail Blue Line - Library branch that runs between Downtown Pittsburgh via the Overbrook neighborhood to Library.

History

The line from South Hills Junction to Castle Shannon was first constructed by the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad between 1872 and 1874. In 1905 Pittsburgh Railways leased the route and between 1909 and 1910 converted it from narrow gauge to dual gauge and installed overhead power for trolleys.
Mid-20th century PCC streetcars continued to operate on the Overbrook Line until 1993, when concerns about the safety of the line led PAT to suspend service there pending reconstruction. This former Pittsburgh Railways trolley line had never been updated to current light rail system requirements. After receiving federal funding for Stage Two of the light rail system development, the Overbrook line was reconstructed as a fully rebuilt double-tracked line served by modern light rail vehicles, making this line a considerably faster commute.
The line was reopened on June 2, 2004 following major work which included doubling of the track and elimination of 22 traditional street level trolley stops in favor of eight new LRV style stations with platforms.
The Port Authority closed five stations along the Library branch on June 25, 2012: Martin Villa, Mine 3, Lindermer, Center and Latimer. Other former Library branch stops include Latimer, Logan, Leonard, Hicks and Pleasant Street.
On March 15, 2020, the Library branch of the Blue Line was renamed the “Silver Line”.

Route

The Silver Line starts at Allegheny station on the North Shore, makes an additional stop at North Side, then proceeds under the Allegheny River and continues underground to Gateway Center, Wood Street and Steel Plaza. The line then surfaces at First Avenue. Leaving downtown, it crosses the Monongahela River on the Panhandle Bridge, stopping at Station Square before running through the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel. At South Hills Junction the Silver Line rejoins the Beechview line and the former Brown Line, which ran over Mount Washington through the Allentown neighborhood. The Silver Line continues south through Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Brookline, and Overbrook. At Bethel Park a transfer is provided to the Red Line, which reaches the same location via Beechview. Beyond Washington Junction the line splits. The Silver Line runs south through Willow and ends at Library in South Park.

Station list

The Pittsburgh Light Rail has three types of stations. They are low platform, high platform, and underground. High platform and underground stations are wheelchair accessible as the train doors are level with the platform. Low platform stations are not wheelchair accessible as they require passengers to climb stairs to board the light rail vehicle.
NameMilesStation TypeOther servicesMunicipality
Allegheny 0.00high platform, Pittsburgh / Chateau
North Side 0.51underground, Pittsburgh / North Shore
Gateway Center 1.00underground, Pittsburgh / Central Business District
Wood Street 1.26underground, Pittsburgh / Central Business District
Steel Plaza 1.55underground, Pittsburgh / Central Business District
First Avenue 1.88high platform, Pittsburgh / Central Business District
Station Square 2.41high platform,,, Pittsburgh / South Shore
South Hills Junction 3.25high platform,, Pittsburgh / Mt. Washington
Boggs 3.66high platformPittsburgh / Beltzhoover
Bon Air 4.30high platformPittsburgh / Bon Air
Denise 5.09high platformPittsburgh / Carrick
South Bank 5.49high platform, Pittsburgh / Overbrook
McNeilly 6.73high platformPittsburgh / Overbrook
Killarney 7.06high platformCastle Shannon
Memorial Hall 7.76high platformCastle Shannon
Willow 8.31high platformCastle Shannon
St. Anne's8.69low platform, Castle Shannon
Smith Road8.97low platform, Castle Shannon
Washington Junction 9.21high platform, Bethel Park
Hillcrest9.77low platformBethel Park
Lytle 10.64high platformBethel Park
Mesta10.82low platformBethel Park
South Park11.03low platformBethel Park
Munroe11.38low platformBethel Park
Sarah11.90low platformBethel Park
Logan12.23low platformBethel Park
King's School12.46low platformBethel Park
Beagle12.99low platformBethel Park
Sandy Creek13.26low platformBethel Park
West Library 13.45high platformSouth Park
Library 14.13high platformSouth Park