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 | |
Owner | Port Authority of Allegheny County |
Locale | Pittsburgh |
Stations | 31 |
Service | |
Type | Light rail |
System | Pittsburgh Light Rail |
Operator(s) | Port Authority of Allegheny County |
Depot(s) | South Hills Village Rail Center |
Rolling stock | Siemens SD-400, CAF LRV |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 5 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) |
Electrification | Overhead lines |
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.
Name | Miles[6] | Station Type | Other services | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allegheny | 0.00 | high platform | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / Chateau |
North Side | 0.51 | underground | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / North Shore |
Gateway Center | 1.00 | underground | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / Central Business District |
Wood Street | 1.26 | underground | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / Central Business District |
Steel Plaza | 1.55 | underground | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / Central Business District |
First Avenue | 1.88 | high platform | Blue Line, Red Line | Pittsburgh / Central Business District |
Station Square | 2.41 | high platform | Blue Line, Red Line, South Busway, Monongahela Incline | Pittsburgh / South Shore |
South Hills Junction | 3.25 | high platform | Blue Line, Red Line, South Busway | Pittsburgh / Mt. Washington |
Boggs | 3.66 | high platform | Blue Line | Pittsburgh / Beltzhoover |
Bon Air | 4.30 | high platform | Blue Line | Pittsburgh / Bon Air |
Denise | 5.09 | high platform | Blue Line | Pittsburgh / Carrick |
South Bank | 5.49 | high platform | Blue Line, South Busway | Pittsburgh / Overbrook |
McNeilly | 6.73 | high platform | Blue Line | Pittsburgh / Overbrook |
Killarney | 7.06 | high platform | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
Memorial Hall | 7.76 | high platform | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
Willow | 8.31 | high platform | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
St. Anne's | 8.69 | low platform | Blue Line, Red Line (Limited) | Castle Shannon |
Smith Road | 8.97 | low platform | Blue Line, Red Line (Limited) | Castle Shannon |
Washington Junction | 9.21 | high platform | Blue Line, Red Line (Limited) | Bethel Park |
Hillcrest | 9.77 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Lytle | 10.64 | high platform | Bethel Park | |
Mesta | 10.82 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
South Park | 11.03 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Munroe | 11.38 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Sarah | 11.90 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Logan | 12.23 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
King's School | 12.46 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Beagle | 12.99 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
Sandy Creek | 13.26 | low platform | Bethel Park | |
West Library | 13.45 | high platform | South Park | |
Library | 14.13 | high platform | South Park |
References
- "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.
- JW, RAH (July 1, 2004). "Five cities dedicate light rail lines". Railway Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- "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.
- "Port Authority to rename a light rail service to Silver Line Library".
- PortAuthority.org. "Blue / Silver line schedule" (PDF). Port Authority of Allegheny County. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "PAAC System Map". Port Authority.