SEPTA Route 15
| Route 15 Girard Avenue Trolley |
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|---|---|
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SEPTA PCC II
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| Overview | |
| Type | Heritage streetcar |
| Locale | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Termini | 63rd Street and Girard Avenue Richmond and Westmoreland Streets |
| Daily ridership | 11,329 (ave. weekday, FY 2014) |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1859; 2005 (resumed) |
| Operator(s) | SEPTA |
| Depot(s) | Callowhill Depot |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 2 1⁄4 in (1,581 mm) |
| Electrification | 600 V Direct current, overhead lines |
SEPTA's Route 15, the Girard Avenue Line is a trolley line, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), along Girard Avenue through North and West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2007[update], it is the only surface trolley line in the City Transit Division that is not part of the Subway–Surface Trolley Lines (although it is designated as such on SEPTA's rail maps). SEPTA PCC II vehicles are used on the line.
The line was first opened in 1859 as a horse car line operated by the Richmond and Schuylkill River Passenger Railway, and electrified in 1895, with extensions in 1902 and 1903. Service was suspended (replaced with buses) in 1992, along with Route 23 (Germantown Avenue-11th and 12th Streets) and Route 56 (Torresdale-Erie Avenues). On September 4, 2005, trolley service was restored.
As of April 29, 2012, east of Frankford Ave the line is operated by buses due to major reconstruction, west of Frankford is still run by PCC II. Trolleys now terminate at Frankford and Delaware Avenues (Northern Liberties Loop), buses terminate at Girard Station under the Market-Frankford Line.
The Girard Avenue Line's 8.4 miles (13.5 km) route runs along Girard Avenue and Richmond Street. The western terminus of Route 15 is at the intersection of Girard Avenue and 63rd Street, at the Haddington Loop, and instantly passes by Carroll Park. The next landmark is Cathedral Cemetery, which is on the corner of US 30 (Lancaster Avenue), where both Girard Avenue and Route 15 briefly overlap, along with the SEPTA Route 10 trolley. The line leaves Lancaster Avenue and resumes its way along Girard Avenue. After crossing over the Paoli/Thorndale Line at the intersection with Belmont Avenue, the line passes by the Philadelphia Zoo near Exit 342 on the Schuylkill Expressway before crossing the Schuylkill River over the Girard Avenue Bridge.
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Wikipedia