Hello SEPTA Metro: what you need to know before Sunday’s official launch

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — More changes are coming to SEPTA. After beginning its rollout in 2024, SEPTA Metro will officially launch on Sunday, February 23. Here’s everything you need to know:

Jump to section:

• SEPTA Metro
  • Rail lines
    • Market-Frankford Line [L]
    • Broad Street Line [B]
    • Subway-Surface Trolleys [T]
    • Route 15 Trolley [G]
    • Media-Sharon Hill Line (Routes 101 & 102) [D]
    • Norristown High Speed Line [M]
  • Station naming
  • New signage
• Six bus routes to be renamed

SEPTA Metro

The transit agency says it is changing the system with new naming, maps, and signage so it is easier to understand for both new and experienced riders.

Click here to view SEPTA’s new network map.

Rail lines

Market-Frankford Line [L]
The Market-Frankford Line will become the L.

SEPTA says this letter was chosen to mirror what many riders already call “the el.”

New route name:
Market-Frankford Line All Stops → L1

Broad Street Line [B]
The Broad Street Line will become the B.

SEPTA hopes the change will make for “quicker, clearer” communication, so riders don’t accidentally get on the Spur.

New route names:
Broad Street Line Local → B1
Broad Street Line Express → B2
Broad-Ridge Spur → B3

Subway-Surface Trolleys [T]
The five Subway-Surface Trolleys will be T1-T5, replacing the old route numbers in order from North to South. Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 will collectively become the T.

New route names:
Route 10 → T1
Route 34 → T2
Route 13 → T3
Route 11 → T4
Route 36 → T5

Route 15 Trolley [G]
Since the Route 15 Trolley doesn’t go into Center City, SEPTA gave this line a separate letter, G, for Girard Avenue. The historic trolleys made their return in June 2024.

New route name:
Route 15 → G1

Media-Sharon Hill Line (Routes 101 & 102) [D]
The Media-Sharon Hill Line, also known as the Route 101/102 trolleys, will become the D. SEPTA says D was chosen to represent Delaware County, where the two lines run.

New route names:
Media 101 Trolley → D1
Sharon Hill 102 Trolley → D2

Norristown High Speed Line [M]
The Norristown High Speed Line will become the M. According to the transit agency, M was chosen to represent Montgomery County, where much of the line runs.

New route name:
Local → M1

Station naming

15th St and City Hall Stations will now refer to the same place, whether riders take the L, B, or T:

When stations have identical names, like Girard for the L and B, SEPTA says it will add the intersection or neighborhood name:

The term “Transportation Center” will be replaced with “Transit Center.” According to SEPTA, it will save space on signage and is easier to say:

Abbreviations will also be standardized:

• Avenue → Av
• Street → St
• Lane → Ln
• Boulevard → Blvd
• Square → Sq

New signage

According to SEPTA, better wayfinding makes people safer. The transit agency says there will be clear and consistent directions and wayfinding to exits.

New symbols will also be used:

Regulatory and safety signage will also be replaced:

Six bus routes to be renamed

As the new SEPTA Metro lines officially adopt the new letter-based systems, six bus routes will transition from letters to numbers beginning Sunday, February 23. The transit agency says it is making the change for greater consistency and to reduce confusion across the entire bus network. For example, L will always mean the Market-Frankford Line, not Bus Route L.

The following routes will transition to new names:

• G → 63
• H → 71
• J → 41
• L → 51
• R → 82
• XH → 81

During the transition, new numbers and old letters will appear to reduce rider confusion. According to SEPTA, Bus Route K will transition to a numbered route in the future. The transit agency’s vision is to have all bus routes numbered, along with broader changes to the network for more frequent service.