The service was cut back to Elwyn, Pa., 12.4 miles to the east, in 1986. SEPTA plans to restore service on an additional three miles, to Wawa, by summer 2020. Construction will begin this summer, including restoration of track, new catenary supports and signals, along with a new station and a 600-vehicle parking deck. The project is expected to cost $150 million.
The track to West Chester remains in place, although the catenary has been removed, and tourist carrier West Chester Railroad operates diesel-hauled trains from West Chester to Glen Mills. SEPTA runs work trains as far as a large quarry just east of Glen Mills to load ballast trains.
SEPTA completed a feasibility study to restore service on the 9.4 miles from Wawa to West Chester last year and will hold a public meeting on Jan. 25 to reveal the results of the study. The state Department of Transportation, the regional planning commission and other agencies took part in the study.
What would it take to extend the line to downingtown? A connector rather than a long spoke.
As a lineman and power director who worked that line, I can tell you this. there used to be 2 tracks going out there and 2 more substations. Sub 03 Cheney and Sub 04 West Chester and a transmission line feed from Sub 11 Lamokin. (202 line which was split at Sub 02 Lenni) when the PRR cut back service in the late 50’s, Subs 03 and 04 were removed, and the 2nd track also. the trolley wires were spliced from Sub 02 Lenni and called the 031 trolley. they installed a Freight breaker dialed all the way up to handle the load. In the late 80’s or 90’s Septa removed the catenary back to Glen Mills for the scrap value and to avoid the legal and insurance issues.
In the 70’s the PC sold several of the stations to private individuals effectively closing them to patrons. ( the owner of WestTown is the most hostile of the bunch who doesn’t want any service back running past his place.) the rest were removed and WestChester station was closed and left to rot. If Septa is to restore service, they will have to add at least 1 substation, put some kind of passing sidings in various locations and decide if the signal line will be put back as RR fed from Sub 02 Lenni or 60-cycle fed from Peco. ( and all the headaches that goes with power outages during storms or bad weather). They will probably do all the catenary work as cheaply as possible using constant tension instead of the PRR standard 3 wire construction. ( which makes a BIG difference in repair work when a trees gets in the wires. rarely did all 3 break when I worked it in the late 70’s early 80’s.) Also they will have to decide if 2 or 3 tracks should be put back at WestChester with High level platforms. And of course there is the tourist railroad issues that go along with this decision.
I live in Lansdowne on the Media-Elwyn line. Years ago when there was service to West Chester I occasionally rode the service. I do rember due to the line being single track past Media service was limited compared to the service from Media. As other commenters have said many off peak trains also required a change of trains in Media or Elwyn. The track to West Chester is in place and I have noticed catenary supports are in place to Wawa. As usual it will take forever to resume service due to the required studies and upgrades of stations to today’s ADA standards. However it should not be as bad as trying to build a new line. The area has experienced great residential and commercial development since the service ended so revived service should be well patronized if scheduled properly. They also need to make sure the stations reopened are accesable to both autos and pedestrians and possible feeder bus service.
The West Chester area has grown considerably since the service was discontinued. There is a lot of residential development, not to mention the expansion of the University. The US202/30 corridor is jammed morning and evening. Sorely needed. Also needed is resumption of service to Reading, again, current traffic on the 422 corridor is getting ridiculous.
There was a reason the line went to West Chester in the first place way back in the day. A stupid decision in 1986 to stop service then, now will cost I think more than they are saying. Hindsight is a M……!!!
In April of 1974, I rode out to West Chester and back about the middle of the day, and did not have to change.
John Bradley, only during off hours. I rode the line in 1979 and our rush hour train ran straight through to 30th Street.
Hopefully the restored trains will offer through/one-seat rides instead of forcing riders to change trains at Media or Elwyn, as was usually the case before, if I remember correctly.