Norristown High Speed Line

Norristown High Speed Line (M)
SEPTA N-5 train #144 of the Norristown High Speed Line as it enters the Gulph Mills station in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania.
Overview
LocaleDelaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Termini
Stations22
Websitesepta.org/service/highspeed
Service
TypeInterurban/Light rapid transit
SystemSEPTA Metro
Services
  •  Local
Route number100 (former)
Operator(s)SEPTA Suburban Division
Rolling stock26 ASEA Type N-5 cars[1]
Daily ridership4,197 (2023)[2]
History
Opened1907
Technical
Line length13.4 mi (21.6 km)[3]
Number of tracks1–3
CharacterSurface (grade separated)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 630 V DC
Operating speed24 mph (39 km/h) (avg.)
55 mph (89 km/h) (top)
Route map
Map
Legend
NOR
to Norristown–Elm Street and Penn Medicine
13.4 mi
21.6 km
 Norristown T.C.
Liberty Bell Line
to Allentown
Schuylkill River
12.8 mi
20.6 km
 Bridgeport
12.3 mi
19.8 km
 DeKalb Street
US 202.svg US 202
I-276.svgPennsylvania Turnpike logo.svg I-276 / Penna Turnpike
King of Prussia extension
proposed
First & Moore / Valley Forge
First & American Forge
Mall Boulevard
Allendale Road
Henderson Road
Trenton Cutoff
11.0 mi
17.7 km
 Hughes Park
10.3 mi
16.6 km
 Gulph Mills
I-76.svg
I-76
Schuylkill Expwy.
9.4 mi
15.1 km
 Matsonford
8.6 mi
13.8 km
 County Line
Keystone Corridor (Main Line)
7.9 mi
12.7 km
 Radnor
I-476.svg I-476
US 30.svg US 30
PA-320.svg PA 320
Strafford Branch
to Strafford
Strafford
Lancaster Avenue
Sugartown Avenue
South Devon Avenue
West Wayne
Maplewood Road
Wayne-St. Davids
Ithan
Radnor
Willowburn
7.0 mi
11.3 km
 Villanova
6.8 mi
10.9 km
 Stadium–Ithan Avenue
6.4 mi
10.3 km
 Garrett Hill
5.9 mi
9.5 km
 Roberts Road
5.4 mi
8.7 km
 Bryn Mawr
4.5 mi
7.2 km
 Haverford
3.9 mi
6.3 km
 Ardmore Avenue
3.4 mi
5.5 km
 Ardmore Junction
 103 
3.1 mi
5 km
 Wynnewood Road
2.5 mi
4 km
 Beechwood–Brookline
1.9 mi
3.1 km
 Penfield
1.4 mi
2.3 km
 Township Line Road
0.7 mi
1.1 km
 Parkview
NHSL Maintenance Facility
0 mi
0 km
 69th Street T.C.
to Orange Street & Sharon Hill
to Frankford T.C.
This diagram:

The Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL),[a] currently rebranding as the M,[b] is a 13.4-mile (21.6 km)[3] interurban light rapid transit line in the SEPTA Metro network, running between the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby and the Norristown Transportation Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Service is operated by the Suburban Transit Division of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Originally the Philadelphia and Western Railroad line (which is why the line is referred to by locals as "the P&W"), the line runs entirely on its own right-of-way. By 2020, the Norristown High Speed Line had an average weekday ridership approaching 11,000 passengers.[6]

The Norristown High Speed Line is unique in its combination of transportation technologies. Originally chartered as a Class I (steam) railroad, the line is fully grade separated, collects power from a third rail, and has high-level platforms common to rapid transit systems or commuter rail systems such as New York City's Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, but has onboard fare collection, mostly single-car operation, and frequent stops more common to light rail systems. Previously, the Norristown High Speed Line was considered to be a light rail line, according to a 2008 SEPTA budget report;[7] however, the line is currently considered an interurban heavy rail line, according to a 2009 SEPTA business plan, and subsequent capital budgets.[8][9] It has also been categorized by the American Public Transportation Association as "Intermodal High Speed rapid rail transit".[10]

The service is similar in design and use to the Mattapan Line in Boston. The purple color-coded line was formerly known simply as Route 100, but was officially changed to its current name in September 2009 as part of a customer service initiative by SEPTA.[11] From 2024, the NHSL is to be rebranded as the M.

The line has been subject to multiple accidents. The first recorded crash occurred near an Ardmore stop on January 26, 1987 injuring 19.[12] The operator tested positive for drugs and was convicted on reckless endangerment.[12] Another crash occurred on July 6, 2012 between Beechwood-Brookline and Penfield stations when the cars detached and came back together, injuring 2.[13] In August 2017, there was a crash involving an unoccupied railcar at the 69th Street Terminal that injured more than 40 people. As a result, the maximum operating speed on the line was decreased to 55 mph (89 km/h) from 70 mph (110 km/h).[14]

  1. ^ "The Modernization of SEPTA Norristown High Speed Line" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2016.
  2. ^ "Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. July 2019. p. 38. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "SEPTA - Media Guide" (PDF). Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "How to Ride - Norristown High Speed Line". I SEPTA Philly. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "SEPTA Metro: Unification and Reorganization". SEPTA. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. July 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Fiscal 2008 Operating Budget" (PDF). SEPTA. 2008. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 25, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  8. ^ "SEPTA Five-Year Strategic Business Plan" (PDF). SEPTA. p. 4. Retrieved June 1, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "SEPTA Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Budget" (PDF).
  10. ^ "American Public Transportation Association - A MULTIMODAL TOUR OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association (APTA). June 1, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Nussbaum, Paul (July 22, 2009). "SEPTA seeks input on Regional Rail name changes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  12. ^ a b Fazlollah, Mark (August 22, 2017). "Notable SEPTA train accidents". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "Seven hurt when SEPTA trains collide". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 6, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Laughlin, Jason (September 29, 2017). "Speed reduced on Norristown High-Speed Line in wake of crash". Philly.com. Retrieved December 22, 2018.


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