Silver Line (Pittsburgh)

The Silver Line is the renamed service for the former Pittsburgh Light Rail Blue Line - Library branch that runs between Downtown Pittsburgh via the Overbrook neighborhood to Library.

Silver Line
A Silver Line train is a rename of a Blue Line train like this one
Overview
OwnerPort Authority of Allegheny County
LocalePittsburgh
Stations31
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemPittsburgh Light Rail
Operator(s)Port Authority of Allegheny County
Depot(s)South Hills Village Rail Center
Rolling stockSiemens SD-400, CAF LRV
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 2 12 in (1,588 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead lines
Route map

Allegheny
North Side
Gateway
Wood Street
Penn Station
occasional use
Steel Plaza
First Avenue
I-376 / US 22 / US 30
Penn Lincoln Parkway
Station Square
South Hills Junction
Boggs
Bon Air
Denise
South Bank
McNeilly
Pittsburgh
Castle Shannon
Killarney
Memorial Hall
Overbrook
Junction
| Willow
St. Anne's
Smith Road
Castle Shannon
Bethel Park
Washington Junction
Hillcrest
Lytle
Mesta
South Park
Munroe
Sarah
Logan
King's School
Beagle
Sandy Creek
Bethel Park
South Park
West Library
Library

History

The line from South Hills Junction to Castle Shannon (now called the Overbrook Line) was first constructed by the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad (P&CSRR) between 1872 and 1874.[1] In 1905 Pittsburgh Railways leased the route and between 1909 and 1910 converted it from narrow gauge to dual gauge and installed overhead power for trolleys.

Mid-20th century PCC streetcars continued to operate on the Overbrook Line until 1993, when concerns about the safety of the line led PAT to suspend service there pending reconstruction. This former Pittsburgh Railways trolley line had never been updated to current light rail system requirements. After receiving federal funding for Stage Two of the light rail system development, the Overbrook line was reconstructed as a fully rebuilt double-tracked line served by modern light rail vehicles, making this line a considerably faster commute.

The line was reopened on June 2, 2004 following major work which included doubling of the track and elimination of 22 traditional street level trolley stops in favor of eight new LRV style stations with platforms.[2]

The Port Authority closed five stations along the Library branch on June 25, 2012: Martin Villa, Mine 3, Lindermer, Center and Latimer.[3] Other former Library branch stops include Latimer, Logan, Leonard, Hicks and Pleasant Street.

On March 15, 2020, the Library branch of the Blue Line was renamed the “Silver Line”.[4][5]

Route

The Silver Line starts at Allegheny station on the North Shore, makes an additional stop at North Side, then proceeds under the Allegheny River and continues underground to Gateway Center, Wood Street and Steel Plaza. The line then surfaces at First Avenue. Leaving downtown, it crosses the Monongahela River on the Panhandle Bridge, stopping at Station Square before running through the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel. At South Hills Junction the Silver Line rejoins the Beechview line and the former Brown Line, which ran over Mount Washington through the Allentown neighborhood. The Silver Line continues south through Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Brookline, and Overbrook. At Bethel Park a transfer is provided to the Red Line, which reaches the same location via Beechview. Beyond Washington Junction the line splits. The Silver Line runs south through Willow and ends at Library in South Park.

Station list

The Pittsburgh Light Rail has three types of stations. They are low platform, high platform, and underground. High platform and underground stations are wheelchair accessible as the train doors are level with the platform. Low platform stations are not wheelchair accessible as they require passengers to climb stairs to board the light rail vehicle.

NameMiles[6]Station TypeOther servicesMunicipality
Allegheny 0.00high platform     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / Chateau
North Side 0.51underground     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / North Shore
Gateway Center 1.00underground     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / Central Business District
Wood Street 1.26underground     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / Central Business District
Steel Plaza 1.55underground     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / Central Business District
First Avenue 1.88high platform     Blue Line,      Red LinePittsburgh / Central Business District
Station Square 2.41high platform     Blue Line,      Red Line,      South Busway, Monongahela InclinePittsburgh / South Shore
South Hills Junction 3.25high platform     Blue Line,      Red Line,      South BuswayPittsburgh / Mt. Washington
Boggs 3.66high platform     Blue LinePittsburgh / Beltzhoover
Bon Air 4.30high platform     Blue LinePittsburgh / Bon Air
Denise 5.09high platform     Blue LinePittsburgh / Carrick
South Bank 5.49high platform     Blue Line,      South BuswayPittsburgh / Overbrook
McNeilly 6.73high platform     Blue LinePittsburgh / Overbrook
Killarney 7.06high platform     Blue LineCastle Shannon
Memorial Hall 7.76high platform     Blue LineCastle Shannon
Willow 8.31high platform     Blue LineCastle Shannon
St. Anne's8.69low platform     Blue Line,      Red Line (Limited)Castle Shannon
Smith Road8.97low platform     Blue Line,      Red Line (Limited)Castle Shannon
Washington Junction 9.21high platform     Blue Line,      Red Line (Limited)Bethel Park
Hillcrest9.77low platformBethel Park
Lytle 10.64high platformBethel Park
Mesta10.82low platformBethel Park
South Park11.03low platformBethel Park
Munroe11.38low platformBethel Park
Sarah11.90low platformBethel Park
Logan12.23low platformBethel Park
King's School12.46low platformBethel Park
Beagle12.99low platformBethel Park
Sandy Creek13.26low platformBethel Park
West Library 13.45high platformSouth Park
Library 14.13high platformSouth Park

References

  1. "Historic American Engineering Record - Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad, Reflectorville Viaduct, Overbrook Trolley Line, crossing near Edgebrook Av, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA". Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  2. JW, RAH (July 1, 2004). "Five cities dedicate light rail lines". Railway Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  3. "Eleven T Stops Close June 25". Port Authority of Allegheny County. June 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  4. "Port Authority to rename a light rail service to Silver Line Library".
  5. PortAuthority.org. "Blue / Silver line schedule" (PDF). Port Authority of Allegheny County. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. "PAAC System Map". Port Authority.

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