Bethlehem Line
The Bethlehem Line was a SEPTA Regional Rail service on the former Reading Company Bethlehem Branch between Lansdale and Bethlehem. Some trains continued over the electrified Lansdale/Doylestown Line to the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. The Great Depression curtailed plans to extend electrification up the line to Bethlehem.
Between July 31, 1978 and August 20, 1979, SEPTA extended service to Allentown. On June 30, 1981 the Bethlehem Line was cut back from Bethlehem to Quakertown. Service ended altogether on July 26, 1981 as SEPTA eliminated its former Reading diesel services. At the time of discontinuation, the Bethlehem Line was the second-longest line in the SEPTA Regional Rail system, behind the Pottsville Line, and had the most stations.
The Bethlehem Line is owned by SEPTA and is utilized for freight service by the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad between Lansdale and Telford and the East Penn Railroad between Telford and Quakertown. Between Quakertown and Bethlehem the line was converted into the Saucon Rail Trail.
Stations[edit]
| Station | Distance | Fare zone | Opened | Closed | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Terminal | 0 mi (0 km) | 1 | 1893 | 1984 | SEPTA at Jefferson Station and 11th Street |
| Spring Garden Street | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 1A | 1893 | 1984 | |
| Temple University | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | 1911 | SEPTA Routes 3, 23, 47 | ||
| North Broad Street | 2.9 mi (4.7 km) | 1929 | Broad Street Line, Trenton Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Keystone Service at North Philadelphia SEPTA Routes 4, 16 and 54 | ||
| Tioga | 4.0 mi (6.4 km) | 1854 | 1990 | ||
| Nicetown | 4.3 mi (6.9 km) | 1911 | 1988 | ||
| Wayne Junction | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 1881 | SEPTA Routes: 2, 23, 53, 75 | ||
| Logan | 5.9 mi (9.5 km) | 2 | 1882 | 1992 | Broad Street Line at Logan station SEPTA Routes C, J |
| Tabor | 6.7 mi (10.8 km) | 1926 | 1992[1] | SEPTA Routes 26, S | |
| Fern Rock | 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | 1902 | 1992[2] | SEPTA Route XO | |
| Melrose Park | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) | 2E | SEPTA Route XA | ||
| Elkins Park | 9.2 mi (14.8 km) | 1899 | SEPTA Route XA | ||
| Jenkintown | 10.8 mi (17.4 km) | 2J | 1859 | SEPTA Route X | |
| Glenside | 11.9 mi (19.2 km) | 1873 | SEPTA Route X, 6 | ||
| North Hills | 13.0 mi (20.9 km) | 3 | 1855 | ||
| Oreland | 13.9 mi (22.4 km) | 1890 | |||
| Fellwick | 14.8 mi (23.8 km) | 1855 | 1996 | ||
| Fort Washington | 15.9 mi (25.6 km) | 4 | 1903 | ||
| Ambler | 17.3 mi (27.8 km) | 1855 | |||
| Penllyn | 18.8 mi (30.4 km) | 1930 | |||
| Gwynedd Valley | 20.0 mi (32.2 km) | 1888 | |||
| North Wales | 22.4 mi (36.0 km) | 5 | 1873 | ||
| Pennbrook | 23.5 mi (37.8 km) | ||||
| Lansdale | 24.4 mi (39.3 km) | 1856 | |||
| Hatfield | 27.1 mi (43.6 km) | 6 | 1913 | 1981 | |
| Souderton | 29.6 mi (47.6 km) | 1860s | 1981 | ||
| Telford | 30.9 mi (49.7 km) | 7 | c. 1857 | 1981 | |
| Sellersville | 33.6 mi (54.1 km) | 1857 | 1981 | ||
| Perkasie | 35.0 mi (56.3 km) | 1857 | 1981 | ||
| Quakertown | 40.2 mi (64.7 km) | 8 | 1857 | 1981 | |
| Centre Valley | 47.6 mi (76.6 km) | 10 | c. 1851 | 1981 | |
| Hellertown | 52.6 mi (84.7 km) | 11 | 1868 | 1981 | |
| Bethlehem | 56.6 mi (91.1 km) | 1867 | 1981 | The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority | |
| Allentown | 61.3 mi (98.7 km) | 12 | 1890 | 1979 | The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority |