Bethlehem Line
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Commuter rail |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Last service | July 27, 1981 |
| Former operator(s) | Conrail and SEPTA |
| Route | |
| Start | Philadelphia |
| End | Bethlehem |
| Line used | Bethlehem Branch |
The Bethlehem Line was a SEPTA Regional Rail service on the former Reading Company Bethlehem Branch between Lansdale and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Some trains continued over the electrified Lansdale/Doylestown Line to the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. Between 1978–1979 SEPTA extended service to Allentown. Service ended altogether in 1981 as SEPTA eliminated its former Reading diesel services.
History
The route between Philadelphia and Bethlehem was constructed in the 19th century by the North Pennsylvania Railroad, a forerunner of the Reading Company. The Reading continued to operate passenger services between the two cities into the 20th century; at one time Bethlehem was a major interchange with the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Commuter services survived into the Conrail era but fell victim to SEPTA's decision in 1981 to eliminate diesel services. Service between Bethlehem and Quakertown ended on July 1, 1981; service between Quakertown and Lansdale followed on July 26.[1]
Stations
Bethlehem trains made the following station stops; stations indicated with italics closed prior to the discontinuation of service in 1981. Mileage and fare zones are from the July 30, 1978 timetable.[2]
| Zone | Distance | Station | City/Township | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 mi (0.0 km) | Reading Terminal | Philadelphia | |
| 1A | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | Spring Garden Street | ||
| 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | Temple University | |||
| 2.9 mi (4.7 km) | North Broad Street | |||
| 4.0 mi (6.4 km) | Tioga | |||
| 4.3 mi (6.9 km) | Nicetown | |||
| 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | Wayne Junction | |||
| 2 | 5.9 mi (9.5 km) | Logan | ||
| 6.7 mi (10.8 km) | Tabor | |||
| 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | Fern Rock | |||
| 2E | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) | Melrose Park | Cheltenham | Montgomery |
| 9.2 mi (14.8 km) | Elkins Park | |||
| 2J | 10.8 mi (17.4 km) | Jenkintown | ||
| 11.9 mi (19.2 km) | Glenside | |||
| 3 | 13.0 mi (20.9 km) | North Hills | Abington | |
| 13.9 mi (22.4 km) | Oreland | Springfield | ||
| 14.8 mi (23.8 km) | Fellwick | Whitemarsh | ||
| 4 | 15.9 mi (25.6 km) | Fort Washington | ||
| 17.3 mi (27.8 km) | Ambler | Ambler | ||
| 18.8 mi (30.3 km) | Penllyn | Lower Gwynedd | ||
| 20.0 mi (32.2 km) | Gwynedd Valley | |||
| 5 | 22.4 mi (36.0 km) | North Wales | North Wales | |
| 23.5 mi (37.8 km) | Pennbrook | Lansdale | ||
| 24.4 mi (39.3 km) | Lansdale | |||
| 6 | 27.1 mi (43.6 km) | Hatfield | Hatfield | |
| 29.6 mi (47.6 km) | Souderton | Souderton | ||
| 7 | 30.9 mi (49.7 km) | Telford | Telford | |
| 33.6 mi (54.1 km) | Sellersville | Sellersville | Bucks | |
| 35.0 mi (56.3 km) | Perkasie | Perkasie | ||
| 8 | 40.2 mi (64.7 km) | Quakertown | Quakertown | |
| 10 | 47.6 mi (76.6 km) | Centre Valley | Coopersburg | Lehigh |
| 11 | 52.6 mi (84.7 km) | Hellertown | Hellertown | Northampton |
| 56.6 mi (91.1 km) | Bethlehem | Bethlehem | ||
| 12 | 61.3 mi (98.7 km) | Allentown | Allentown | Lehigh |