Fox Chase station: Difference between revisions
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In the fall of 2009, SEPTA began work on rebuilding the station area and ticket office. Work is expected to be completed by early 2010.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/community/pa/philadelphia/netimes/Fox_Chase_is_onboard_with_plans_for_train_station.html Fox Chase is onboard with Plans for Train Station]</ref> |
In the fall of 2009, SEPTA began work on rebuilding the station area and ticket office. Work is expected to be completed by early 2010.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/community/pa/philadelphia/netimes/Fox_Chase_is_onboard_with_plans_for_train_station.html Fox Chase is onboard with Plans for Train Station]</ref> |
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==Extended electrification== |
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Electrified service between Newtown Junction and Fox Chase Station was opened on September 25, 1966. In the late 1970s, there were plans to extend electrification to the line's actual terminus in [[Newtown (SEPTA station)|Newtown]], using funds supplied by both [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]] and [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks Counties]]. Had the electrification plans come to fruition, the [[Walnut Hill (SEPTA station)|Walnut Hill Station]] would have been closed, and trains would have operated non-stop from Fox Chase to [[Huntingdon Valley (SEPTA station)|Huntingdon Valley]]. Unfortunately, Bucks County was unable to come up with the needed funds, and electrification was put on hold indefinitely.<ref>{{cite book | last = Pawson | first = John R. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Delaware Valley Rails: The Railroads and Rail Transit Lines of the Philadelphia Area | publisher = John R. Pawson | date = 1979 | location = [[Willow Grove, Pennsylvania]] | pages = 59 | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-9602080-0-3}}</ref> |
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==Newtown extension== |
==Newtown extension== |
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Service in the diesel-only territory north of Fox Chase was discontinued on January 13, 1983, due to failing [[Budd Rail Diesel Car|diesel train equipment]] resulting in low ridership. Although rail service beyond Fox Chase was initially replaced with a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus, patronage remained light. The traveling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service, and the Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus service ended in 1999. There are no plans to reinstate service, and Fox Chase remains the official end of the Newtown line. |
Service in the diesel-only territory north of Fox Chase was discontinued on January 13, 1983, due to failing [[Budd Rail Diesel Car|diesel train equipment]] resulting in low ridership. Although rail service beyond Fox Chase was initially replaced with a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus, patronage remained light. The traveling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service, and the Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus service ended in 1999. There are no plans to reinstate service, and Fox Chase remains the official end of the Newtown line. |
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In the ensuing years, there has been interest in resuming passenger service by Bucks County officials. Neighboring [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] officials are supportive of re-thinking the rail corridor as well<ref>[http://www.topix.com/city/quakertown-pa/2009/04/bucks-montgomery-counties-resubmit-commuter-rail-plan topix.com]</ref>, though the belief within SEPTA management is that the section through [[Lorimer Park]] and Walnut Hill Station (the only sparsely populated section along the railway) will never generate enough riders to be feasible. |
In the ensuing years, there has been interest in resuming passenger service by Bucks County officials. Neighboring [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] officials are supportive of re-thinking the rail corridor as well<ref>[http://www.topix.com/city/quakertown-pa/2009/04/bucks-montgomery-counties-resubmit-commuter-rail-plan topix.com]</ref>, though the belief within SEPTA management is that the section through [[Lorimer Park]] and Walnut Hill Station (the only sparsely populated section along the railway) will never generate enough riders to be feasible. |
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In September 2009, the [[Southampton, Pennsylvania|Southampton-based]] '''Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition (PA-TEC)''' began discussions with township officials along the railway, as well as SEPTA officials, about the realistic possibility of resuming even minimal passenger service to relieve traffic congestion in the region. Plans call for completing the electrification to Newtown, as originally planned in the late 1970s. Both Bucks and Montgomery County officials, as well as state representatives, have been receptive to PA-TEC's efforts, despite SEPTA's overall reservations. However, SEPTA has also confirmed that they are indeed open to revisiting the line if there is strong political support in both counties.<ref>[http://www.r8newtown.com/ r8newtown.com]</ref> |
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==[[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]] Connections== |
==[[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]] Connections== |
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Revision as of 14:00, 17 January 2010
Fox Chase | |
|---|---|
| SEPTA regional rail station | |
 Fox Chase station | |
| General information | |
| Location | 442 Rhawn Street Philadelphia, PA 19111 |
| Coordinates | 40°04′36″N 75°04′57″W / 40.076643°N 75.082487°W |
| Owned by | SEPTA |
| Line(s) | Lua error in Module:Adjacent_stations at line 430: "title" is missing from the data page. |
| Platforms | 2 Spanish solution |
| Tracks | 2 |
| Connections | SEPTA Bus |
| Construction | |
| Parking | 342 Spaces |
| Accessible | Yes |
| Other information | |
| Fare zone | 2 |
| History | |
| Electrified | yes |
| Previous names | Reading Railroad |
| Services | |
|
| |
Fox Chase is the terminus of SEPTA's R8 Fox Chase Regional Rail line. It is located just west of the intersection of Rhawn Street and Rockwell Avenue in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The station, which has the largest number of parking spaces of any on the line (342), is the closest regional rail stop to the neighborhoods of Fox Chase, Bustleton, and Pine Valley. It is also used by residents of Rockledge and Huntingdon Valley in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
In the fall of 2009, SEPTA began work on rebuilding the station area and ticket office. Work is expected to be completed by early 2010.[1]
Extended electrification
Electrified service between Newtown Junction and Fox Chase Station was opened on September 25, 1966. In the late 1970s, there were plans to extend electrification to the line's actual terminus in Newtown, using funds supplied by both Montgomery and Bucks Counties. Had the electrification plans come to fruition, the Walnut Hill Station would have been closed, and trains would have operated non-stop from Fox Chase to Huntingdon Valley. Unfortunately, Bucks County was unable to come up with the needed funds, and electrification was put on hold indefinitely.[2]
Newtown extension
Before 1983, service continued northward via RDC passenger trains to a terminus in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The crossing at Rhawn Street still exists, but bumpers prevent trains from crossing.
Service in the diesel-only territory north of Fox Chase was discontinued on January 13, 1983, due to failing diesel train equipment resulting in low ridership. Although rail service beyond Fox Chase was initially replaced with a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus, patronage remained light. The traveling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service, and the Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus service ended in 1999. There are no plans to reinstate service, and Fox Chase remains the official end of the Newtown line.
In the ensuing years, there has been interest in resuming passenger service by Bucks County officials. Neighboring Montgomery County officials are supportive of re-thinking the rail corridor as well[3], though the belief within SEPTA management is that the section through Lorimer Park and Walnut Hill Station (the only sparsely populated section along the railway) will never generate enough riders to be feasible.
In September 2009, the Southampton-based Pennsylvania Transit Expansion Coalition (PA-TEC) began discussions with township officials along the railway, as well as SEPTA officials, about the realistic possibility of resuming even minimal passenger service to relieve traffic congestion in the region. Plans call for completing the electrification to Newtown, as originally planned in the late 1970s. Both Bucks and Montgomery County officials, as well as state representatives, have been receptive to PA-TEC's efforts, despite SEPTA's overall reservations. However, SEPTA has also confirmed that they are indeed open to revisiting the line if there is strong political support in both counties.[4]
SEPTA City Bus Connections
References
- ^ Fox Chase is onboard with Plans for Train Station
- ^ Pawson, John R. (1979). Delaware Valley Rails: The Railroads and Rail Transit Lines of the Philadelphia Area. Willow Grove, Pennsylvania: John R. Pawson. p. 59. ISBN 0-9602080-0-3.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ topix.com
- ^ r8newtown.com
External links
- R8newtown.com - Website advocating resumption of rail service north of Fox Chase
- Current schedule for the SEPTA R8 line
- SEPTA - Fox Chase Station
- Picture of the old station building, circa 1961, before electrification in 1966.
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