Re: SEPTA (Red Arrow) here is the photo
Author: Tom McCann
Date: 11-01-2010 - 12:06
Sorry, Drew, my bad. I guess my eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be. That is the Media-Elwyn regional rail line, formerly AKA the R3.
SEPTA discontinued the use of its R(#) route designations earlier this year because of confusion between the two sides of each route. Each half of a given route was either former Pennsy or former Reading, except for the R1 (Airport) Line.
The combined routes wer established after the 1984 completion of the Center City Commuter Tunnel in downtown Philadelphia, which linked the two formerly separate operations.
Apparently some riders were boarding the wrong side of their route, for example, going to Paoli/Thorndale (PRR side) on the R5 when they wanted to go to Lansdale or Doylestown (RDG side).
The routes are now designated by their termini, for example, Chestnut Hill East (RDG side) or Chestnut Hill West (PRR side).
More information is available on the SEPTA web site.