View source for Warminster Line

{{Short description|SEPTA Regional Rail service}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = Warminster Line
| color           = {{rcr|SEPTA|Warminster}}
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = SEPTA Silverliner IV 450 inbound between Hatboro and Willow Grove.jpeg
| image_width     = 300px
| alt             =
| caption         = A southbound Warminster Line train between the [[Hatboro station|Hatboro]] and [[Willow Grove station|Willow Grove]] stations
| type            = [[SEPTA Regional Rail]] commuter service
| status          = 
| locale          = 
| predecessor     = 
| first           = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| last            = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| successor       = 
| operator        = [[SEPTA]]
| formeroperator  = 
| ridership       = 3,657 (daily FY 2022)<ref name="ridership" />
| ridership2      = 
| website         = 
| start           = {{stl|SEPTA|Warminster}}
| stops           = 16
| end             = [[30th Street Station]]
| distance        = 
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = 
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Warminster Branch]]
* [[SEPTA Main Line]]
}}
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| access          = 
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| autorack        = 
| catering        = 
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = [[Electric multiple unit]]s
| gauge           = 
| electrification = [[Overhead line]], [[SEPTA's 25 Hz traction power system|12 kV 25&nbsp;Hz AC]]
| speed           = 
| trainlength     = 
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| maintenance     =
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| map             = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|from=Warminster Line.map}}
|Show interactive map
|{{Warminster-infobox}}
|Show route diagram map
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The '''Warminster Line''' is a route of the [[SEPTA Regional Rail]] [[commuter rail]] system. It serves stations between its namesake town, [[Warminster (SEPTA station)|Warminster]], and [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]]. Half of the route is shared by other lines, including the [[Lansdale/Doylestown Line]], [[West Trenton Line (SEPTA)|West Trenton Line]], [[Fox Chase Line]], [[Chestnut Hill East Line]], and [[Manayunk/Norristown Line]]. All trains continue as part of the [[Airport Line (SEPTA)|Airport Line]] with the exception of some weekday trains that terminate at [[30th Street Station]], [[Thorndale station (SEPTA)|Thorndale]], or [[Trenton Transit Center]].

== Route ==
The Warminster Line uses the [[SEPTA Main Line]] between Center City and [[Glenside station]], where it branches off onto the [[Warminster Branch]] to [[Hatboro (SEPTA station)|Hatboro]] and [[Warminster (SEPTA station)|Warminster]]. The tracks continue past Warminster to [[Ivyland, Pennsylvania|Ivyland]] and eventually to [[New Hope, Pennsylvania|New Hope]], where the [[New Hope Railroad]] runs heritage excursion trains.

The Warminster Line becomes a single-track line just north of [[Ardsley, Pennsylvania|Ardsley]], but was once double-tracked as far north as [[Roslyn, Pennsylvania|Roslyn]], the original northbound track being removed in 2010. A passing siding exists north of [[Willow Grove, Pennsylvania|Willow Grove]]. There is also a second storage track at the Hatboro station and the line becomes double-tracked again as it approaches the terminus at Warminster station.

== History ==
{{see also|North Pennsylvania Railroad|Warminster Branch}}
[[File:Hatboro PA SEPTA station from parking lot December 2015.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hatboro station]] was the extent of electrified service until 1974]]
[[File:R2 Warminster.gif|thumb|left|The logo for the Warminister Line]]
The Warminster Line is a continuation of the [[Reading Company]]'s suburban services over the [[Warminster Branch]]. The line was built between 1872 and 1874 and electrified as far as Hatboro in 1931.{{sfnp|Coates|1990|p=84}} Passenger service beyond Hatboro ended in 1952. The Reading extended electrification and suburban service to Warminster on July 29, 1974.{{sfnp|Coates|1990|p=84}}{{sfnp|Bell|1992|p=69}}

With the Reading's final bankruptcy in 1976 [[Conrail]] took over the operation of the trains and ownership of the branch.{{sfnp|USRA|1975|p=281}} The Warminster Branch was conveyed to SEPTA in 1979; SEPTA took over operation of the trains in 1983. A train crash occurred on July 1, 2006, in Abington Township injuring 38 passengers and 6 crew members.<ref>{{cite web|last=King|first=Larry|title=A collision of errors on the R2 is detailed|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20070805_A_collision_of_errors_on_the_R2_is_detailed.html|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=August 5, 2007|access-date=September 15, 2020}}</ref>

Beginning in 1984 the route was designated '''R2 Warminster''' as part of SEPTA's [[SEPTA Regional Rail#Center City tunnel|diametrical reorganization]] of its lines. Warminster Line trains operated through the city center to the [[Wilmington/Newark Line]] (then Marcus Hook) on the ex-Pennsylvania side of the system.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Vuchic | first1=Vukan | author-link1=Vukan Vuchic | last2=Kikuchi | first2=Shinya | year=1984 | title=General Operations Plan for the SEPTA Regional High Speed System | location=Philadelphia | publisher=SEPTA|pages=2–8}}</ref> The R-number naming system was dropped on July 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lustig|first=David|title=SEPTA makeover|journal=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]|date=November 2010|pages=26|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing}}</ref> {{As of|2024}} the majority of Warminster trains continue on to the [[Airport Line (SEPTA)|Airport Line]], though some weekday trains terminate at [[30th Street Station]], [[Thorndale station (SEPTA)|Thorndale]], or [[Trenton Transit Center]].<ref name=timetable>{{cite web|url=https://schedules.septa.org/current/WAR.pdf|title=Warminster Line timetable|date=January 7, 2024|publisher=[[SEPTA]]|access-date=March 31, 2024|location=[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]}}</ref>

On April 18, 2016, SEPTA launched [[positive train control]] on the Warminster Line, the first Regional Rail line to use the signal system which will enhance safety.<ref name=inq22816>{{cite news|last=Laughlin|first=Jason|title=Feds approve new SEPTA train-control safety system|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=February 28, 2016|url=http://articles.philly.com/2016-02-28/news/71006423_1_regional-rail-trains-warminster-line-septa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610055831/http://articles.philly.com/2016-02-28/news/71006423_1_regional-rail-trains-warminster-line-septa|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2016|access-date=May 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Positive Train Control Update|publisher=SEPTA|date=April 28, 2016|url=http://www.septa.org/service/rail/ptc/2016-04-28-ptc-update-warminster.html|access-date=May 22, 2016}}</ref>

=== Potential for expansion beyond Warminster ===

In a 1991 report, the [[Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]] ranked the line between Warminster and New Hope as having "medium potential" for reuse based on projected growth in population and employment in the region. It noted that SEPTA considered the line a "long range transit opportunity corridor."<ref>{{cite web |title=Potential Reuse of Inactive Rail Lines |url=https://www.dvrpc.org/Reports/91040.pdf |publisher=Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission |access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

==Stations==
[[File:Warminster PA SEPTA station February 2018.jpg|thumb|[[Warminster station]], which serves as the terminus of the Warminster Line]]
The Warminster Line includes the following stations north of the [[Center City Commuter Connection]]; stations indicated with gray background area closed.<ref name=timetable />

{|class="wikitable"
|- 
!Zone
!Location
!Station
![[Railway milepost|Miles (km)]]<br>from<br>{{nowrap|[[Center City Commuter Connection|Center City]]}}
!Date opened
! class="nowrap"|Connections / notes
|-
|rowspan=1|C
|[[Temple University]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Temple University}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|2.1|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]: ''all lines''
|-
|rowspan=5|1
|[[Nicetown–Tioga, Philadelphia]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Wayne Junction}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|5.1|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]: {{rcb|SEPTA|Chestnut Hill East|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|Fox Chase|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|West Trenton|inline=small}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|2|23|53}}<br/>{{rint|bus|trolley}} [[Trolleybuses in Philadelphia|SEPTA Trackless Trolley]]: {{SEPTA bus link|75}}
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Olney-Oak Lane, Philadelphia]]
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|Logan
| 
|
|One of four stations discontinued on October 4, 1992<ref name="stationsclosed10492">{{cite news|title=New Rail Schedules Set|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14416961/4_stations_closed_october_2_1992/|access-date=October 19, 2017|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 2, 1992|page=36|via=Newspapers.com|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}} {{open access}}</ref>
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|Tabor
| 
|
|Closed 1992
|-
|[[Fern Rock Transportation Center]] {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|7.3|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} SEPTA Regional Rail: {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|West Trenton|inline=small}}<br />{{ric|SEPTA Metro|name=y}}: {{ric|SEPTA Metro|B|name=y}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|4|28|57|70}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2
|[[Melrose Park, Pennsylvania|Melrose Park]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Melrose Park}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|8.4|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} SEPTA Regional Rail: {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|West Trenton|inline=small}}
|-
|[[Elkins Park, Pennsylvania|Elkins Park]]
|[[Elkins Park station|Elkins Park]]
|{{convert|9.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|May 14, 1899<ref>{{cite news |title=Elkins Station Opened at Ogontz Park |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12498903/the_times/ |access-date=July 3, 2019 |work=The Philadelphia Times |date=May 15, 1899 |page=3|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} SEPTA Regional Rail: {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|West Trenton|inline=small}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|28}}
|-
|rowspan=9|3
|[[Jenkintown, Pennsylvania|Jenkintown]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Jenkintown–Wyncote}}
|{{convert|10.8|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} SEPTA Regional Rail: {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}, {{rcb|SEPTA|West Trenton|inline=small}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|77}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Glenside, Pennsylvania|Glenside]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Glenside}}
|{{convert|11.9|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|philadelphia|septa}} SEPTA Regional Rail: {{rcb|SEPTA|Lansdale/Doylestown|inline=small}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|22|77}}
|-
|{{stl|SEPTA|Ardsley}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|13.0|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|
|-
|[[Roslyn, Pennsylvania|Roslyn]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Roslyn}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|14.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|22}}
|-
|[[Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Abington]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Crestmont}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|15.4|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|
|-
|[[Willow Grove, Pennsylvania|Willow Grove]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Willow Grove}}
|{{convert|16.2|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|22|55|310|311}}
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|[[Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Moreland Township]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Fulmor}}
|{{convert|18.1|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|Closed November 10, 1996<ref name=inq102596>{{cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Frank|title=Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 25, 1996|url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-10-25/news/25663717_1_septa-board-bus-routes-louis-gambaccini|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018195548/http://articles.philly.com/1996-10-25/news/25663717_1_septa-board-bus-routes-louis-gambaccini|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2015|access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Hatboro, Pennsylvania|Hatboro]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Hatboro}}
|{{convert|18.6|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|
|
|-
|[[Warminster, Pennsylvania|Warminster]]
|{{stl|SEPTA|Warminster}} {{NJT acc}}
|{{convert|20.1|mi|km|abbr=values}} 
|July 29, 1974<ref name="1974opening">{{cite news |title=The Scene |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33479796/warminster_station_july_29_1974/ |access-date=July 2, 2019 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 29, 1974 |page=1|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
|{{rint|bus|1}} SEPTA City Bus: {{SEPTA bus link|22}}<br />{{rint|bus|1}} [[TMA Bucks]]: [[Richboro-Warminster Rushbus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Richboro-Warminster Rushbus|url=http://www.tmabucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Warminster-rushbus-2015.pdf|website=tmabucks.com|publisher=TMA Bucks|access-date=October 19, 2017|page=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
|}

==Ridership==
Between FY 2013–FY 2019 yearly ridership on the Warminster Line ranged between 2.3 and 2.7 million before collapsing during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].{{refn|group=note|Data for individual lines is not available for FY 2020.<ref name="ridership">{{cite web | url=https://public.tableau.com/shared/JCCTWRBSK | title=Route Operating Statistics | last=SEPTA Data Group | accessdate=March 1, 2024}}</ref>}}

{{ #invoke:Chart | bar chart
| group 1 = 2501832:2459262:2505068:2795265:2622776:2748634:2294350:0:462850:1112265:1594664
| units suffix =
| group names = Annual ridership
| width=800
| x legends = FY 2013:FY 2014:FY 2015:FY 2016:FY 2017:FY 2018:FY 2019:FY 2020:FY 2021:FY 2022:FY 2023
| colors = #{{rcr|SEPTA|Warminster}}
}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{Coates-Reading}}
* {{cite magazine | last=Bell | first=Kurt | title=New Hope for the New Hope | magazine=[[Railfan & Railroad]] | volume=11 | issue=10 | pages=68–75 | issn=0163-7266 | date=October 1992}}
* {{cite book | title=Final system plan for restructuring railroads in the Northeast and Midwest region pursuant to the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 | year=1975 | author=United States Railway Association | author-link=United States Railway Association | location=Washington, DC | url=http://multimodalways.org/docs/govts/federal/executive/Agencies/DOT/USRA/FSP/FSP%20VI.pdf | oclc=2889148 | volume=1 | ref={{Harvid|USRA|1975}} }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://schedules.septa.org/current/WAR.pdf SEPTA – Warminster Line schedule]
*[http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR%20INTRO%20Jul%2004.wd.pdf The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society]

{{SEPTA |state=autocollapse}}
{{Delaware Valley transit}}
{{Cheltenham}}

[[Category:Warminster Line| ]]
[[Category:SEPTA Regional Rail]]