SEPTA Route 100

Infobox rail line
name = color box|#SEPTA color|Route 100 Route 100
Norristown High-Speed Line

---

image_width = 250px
caption = SEPTA N-5 car #144 enters the Gulph Mills Station in Upper Merion, PA.
type = Interurban
system = SEPTA Suburban Division
status = Operational
locale = Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
start = 69th Street Terminal (south)
end = Norristown Transportation Center (north)
stations = 22
routes =

• Local
• Norristown Express
• Hughes Park Express
• Norristown Limited

ridership =
open = 1908
close =
owner =
operator = SEPTA
character = Surface (grade separated)
stock =
linelength = 13.4 mi (21.6 km)
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
el = Third rail
speed =
elevation =

SEPTA Route 100|

SEPTA Route 100, [The official name of the line is simply "Route 100," as indicated by the official SEPTA map ( [http://www.septa.org/maps/click_map.html link] ) and the line's official schedule ( [http://www.septa.org/service/sched/pdfs/100.pdf link] ).] also known as the Norristown High-Speed Line, is an interurban line system operating between Upper Darby and Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. The system is operated by SEPTA, and runs entirely on its own right-of-way, inherited from the original Philadelphia and Western Railroad line. Some people still refer to the line as the P&W in reference to that carrier. The line is unique in its combination of transportation technologies. Originally a Class One railroad, the line is fully grade separated, collects power from a third rail, and has high-level platforms common to rapid transit systems, but has onboard fare collection and frequent stops more common to light rail systems.

History

Route 100 service began in 1907 as the Philadelphia and Western Railroad (P&W), which ran from the present 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania to Strafford, Pennsylvania. In 1912, a branch was constructed from the existing Villanova station to Norristown.cite web | url=http://web.presby.edu/~jtbell/transit/Philadelphia/NHSL/ | first=Jon | last=Bell | title=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Norristown High Speed Line | publisher=Presbyterian College | date=2006-03-22 | accessdate=2007-08-01] The newly built branch experienced more ridership than the main line to Strafford, therefore the main line was never extended past its original terminus.

From Norristown, the P&W RR connected its tracks with Lehigh Valley Transit Liberty Bell Route to provide direct service from Norristown to Allentown, Pennsylvania. However, in 1951, Lehigh Valley Transit ended its service from Norristown to Allentown, and in 1951, the company ended all its rail service all together. Two years later, the P&W RR was later taken over by the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (PSTC) in 1953, which was more popularly known as the Red Arrow Lines. In 1956, the PSTC abandoned the original branch between Villanova to Strafford, only providing electric MU trains between 69th Street and Norristown, as it is today. The PSTC absorbed into the SEPTA in the late 1960s, eliminating the original railroad charter and immediately becoming the "Norristown High-Speed Line "Trolley"," but was officially known as Route 100.

Ridership on the Norristown line peaked in 1973 with 2,860,000 annual linked trips, and again in 1980 with 2,579,000 annual linked trips. Ridership statistics for fiscal years 2000 and later are from SEPTA Annual Service Plans. Data for years 1972 to 1997 are from the SEPTA 1997 Ridership Census. There may be some discrepancy in how the ridership is reported since the Annual Service Plans report total unlinked trips, while the ridership census uses linked trips, which may exclude passengers transferring from other lines.

tation list

See also

* List of rapid transit systems

References

*PDFlink| [http://www.septa.org/service/sched/pdfs/100.pdf SEPTA Route 100 schedule (June 18, 2007)] |164 KB
*PDFlink| [http://www.publictransit.us/ptlibrary/specialreports/Railopenings.pdf U.S. Urban Rail Transit Lines Opened From 1980]
* [http://www.planning.dot.gov/Peer/Philadelphia/Philadelphia.htm US DOT Planning Report]
* McGraw Publishing Co.: "Norristown Extension of Philadelphia & Western Railway". Electric Railway Journal, Vol. XL, No. 16, October 26, 1912, p. 906.