Warminster Line


The Warminster Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail commuter rail system. It serves stations between its namesake town, Warminster, and Center City, Philadelphia. Half of the route is shared by other lines, including the Lansdale/Doylestown Line, West Trenton Line, Fox Chase Line, Chestnut Hill East Line, and Manayunk/Norristown Line. The great majority of trains continue as part of the Airport Line.

Route

The Warminster Line uses the SEPTA Main Line between Center City and Glenside, where it branches off onto its own line to Hatboro and Warminster. The tracks continue past Warminster to Ivyland and eventually to New Hope, where the New Hope Railroad runs heritage excursion trains.
The Warminster Line becomes a single-track line just north of Ardsley, but was once double-tracked as far north as Roslyn, the original northbound track being removed in 2010. A passing siding exists north of Willow Grove. There is also a second storage track at the Hatboro station and the line becomes double-tracked again as it approaches the terminus at Warminster station.

History

The North Pennsylvania Railroad formed the North East Pennsylvania Railroad in 1870 to construct a branch from its line at Abington to Hatboro. The line opened on December 18, 1872. The line was further extended to Hartsville on November 9, 1874. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, forerunner of the Reading Company, leased the parent North Pennsylvania Railroad in 1879, gaining control of the line. It extended the line to its final terminus at New Hope on April 29, 1891. The Reading electrified the line, which it called the New Hope Branch, as far as Hatboro on July 26, 1931.
In 1952, all passenger service ceased north of Hatboro to New Hope, with every station except Rushland, Wycombe, Lahaska and New Hope being demolished in 1954. Between 1952 and 1966, only freight trains traveled north of Hatboro to serve customers in Warminster, Ivyland, Rushland, Buckingham and New Hope. In 1966, the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad was launched and purchased 16 miles of track from Ivyland to New Hope. After 1966, Ivyland served as a freight interchange between RDG and NHIR and the RDG relabeled their remaining ownership of the line as the Warminster Branch. Not only did they transport freight, but also run scenic heritage excursions, originally from New Hope to Buckingham, but has been cutback to Lahaska in the 1980s. However, passenger service between Warminster and Hatboro was still inactive.
In 1971, RDG filed for bankruptcy after a variety of misfortunes; among them are increased use of trucks and a dwindling economy. The court issued a bankruptcy protection so RDG can still operate. On July 29, 1974, passenger service was reinstated after RDG completed an extension of the electrification from Hatboro to Warminster. Willow Grove and Warminster stations were also rebuilt in the same year. By that time, executives of RDG didn't see their debt becoming any better. Less than two years later, RDG's rolling stock, right-of-ways, interests and stock were in the hands of Conrail, also known as the Consolidated Rail Corporation, which launched operations on April 1, 1976. In 1983, SEPTA took control of the Warminster Branch.
Beginning in 1984 the route was designated R2 Warminster as part of SEPTA's diametrical reorganization of its lines. Warminster Line trains operated through the city center to the Wilmington/Newark Line on the ex-Pennsylvania side of the system. The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010. the majority of Warminster trains continue on to the Airport Line, though some peak hour weekday trains terminate at 30th Street Station.
On April 18, 2016, SEPTA launched positive train control on the Warminster Line, the first Regional Rail line to use the signal system which will enhance safety.

Stations

The Warminster Line includes the following stations north of the Center City Commuter Connection; stations indicated with gray background area closed.
ZoneLocationStationMiles
from Center City		Date openedConnections / notes
CTemple University SEPTA Regional Rail: All lines
1Nicetown–Tioga, Philadelphia SEPTA Regional Rail: Chestnut Hill East, Fox Chase, Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton lines
SEPTA City Bus:
1Olney-Oak Lane, Philadelphia----
1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaLoganOne of four stations discontinued on October 4, 1992
1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaTaborClosed 1992
1Olney-Oak Lane, PhiladelphiaFern Rock Transportation Center SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton lines
SEPTA City Transit: Broad Street Line
SEPTA City Bus:
2Melrose Park SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton lines
2Elkins ParkElkins ParkMay 14, 1899SEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton lines
SEPTA City Bus:
3JenkintownSEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton lines
SEPTA City Bus:
3GlensideSEPTA Regional Rail: Lansdale/Doylestown Line
SEPTA City Bus:
3Glenside
3Roslyn SEPTA City Bus:
3Abington
3Willow GroveSEPTA City Bus:
3Upper Moreland TownshipClosed November 10, 1996
3Hatboro
3Warminster July 29, 1974SEPTA City Bus:
TMA Bucks: Richboro-Warminster Rushbus
3-----
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Ridership

Between FY 2008–FY 2018 yearly ridership on the Warminster Line has ranged between 2.4–2.7 million.