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SEPTA Begins to Restore Service to Former PRR Branch

A new bridge over U.S. Route 1 will carry SEPTA’s extension of the Media-Elwyn Line to Wawa, Pa. Photo by M.T. Burkhart.

SEPTA Begins to Restore Service to Former PRR Branch

By M.T. Burkhart

Work is progressing on SEPTA’s extension of the Media-Elwyn Line to Wawa, Pa., with a recently installed bridge over U.S. Route 1 and construction on a new station and parking deck.

The $178 million project began in early 2018 and is expected to wrap up in late 2021, according to SEPTA. Service on this section of the former Pennsylvania Railroad branch to West Chester (and known for years as the “R3”) was suspended in the mid-1980s.

The next component of this 3-mile service restoration involves infrastructure renewal, including retaining walls and the rehabilitation or replacement of additional bridges and culverts, track, catenary and structures, and signals. The last part of the project is the construction of a new station, a 600 car parking deck, and an intermodal connection.

The new station is expected to be attractive to commuters, as the Philadelphia suburbs continue to expand west with numerous new housing and commercial developments in the fast-growing area of Middletown Township.

This article was posted on: September 21, 2020