R3 (SEPTA)
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The R3 Media/Elwyn is a Regional (commuter) Rail train operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, extending from Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elwyn, Pennsylvania.
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History
The line was formerly known as the West Chester Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The line was also operated in passenger service by the Penn Central and later Conrail prior to the SEPTA takeover of commuter rail operations. Service to West Chester, Pennsylvania was suspended in the late 1980s by SEPTA. Local service traditionally ran to Media, Pennsylvania, hence the "Media" in "Media/Elwyn line", but was extended to the Elwyn park-and-ride station in the late 1970s to alleviate traffic congestion in downtown Media.
Route description
The R3, like all other SEPTA Regional Rail lines, serves the three main Center City stations: Market East Station, Suburban Station, and 30th Street Station. From tracks 5 and 6 on 30th Street's upper level, the R3 goes south and east to University City Station, serving the University of Pennsylvania and the Hospital district. The R2 Wilmington/Newark and the R1 Airport lines also serve University City.
From there, the R3 splits off from Amtrak's Northeast Corridor main line at Arsenal interlocking, continuing as double track for the remainder of the line, serving the following stations:
- 49th Street
- Angora
- Fernwood-Yeadon
- Lansdowne
- Gladstone
- Clifton-Aldan
- Primos
- Secane
- Morton
- Swarthmore
- Wallingford
- Moylan-Rose Valley
- Media
- Elwyn
There are four express trains inbound in the morning and four outbound in the evening; all other scheduled trains are locals. Service is hourly or better at off-peak times.
SEPTA maintains a training site beyond the end of the line, at Lenni.
The line is fully electrified through Lenni, and catenary exists through West Chester.
Ridership
According to SEPTA's latest ridership census, conducted in Spring 2001, daily ridership is approximately 4,389 passengers per day boarding west of University City. The station with the highest daily ridership is Swarthmore, at 565. [1] (http://dvarp.org/dvrpA/dvrp0209.pdf)
External links
Official SEPTA timetable (PDF) (http://septa.org/service/pdfs/R3ME.pdf)