Norristown Transportation Center

Norristown Transportation Center
A Manayunk/Norristown Line train passes under the Norristown High Speed Line platform
General information
Location DeKalb and East Lafayette Streets
Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
United States
Coordinates 40°06′47″N 75°20′42″W
Owned by SEPTA
Line(s) Norristown Branch
Platforms 2 side platforms
Tracks 2
Connections Suburban Bus SEPTA Suburban Bus: 90, 91, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 131
Bike transport Schuylkill River Trail
Construction
Parking 520 space parking garage
136 Free surface parking
44 with permits
Bicycle facilities 4 racks
Accessible Yes (NHSL platforms only)
Other information
Fare zone 3 (Regional Rail)
History
Rebuilt June 15, 1989
Electrified 25 Hz (Regional Rail)
Third rail (NHSL)
Passengers
2017 856 boardings
781 alightings
(weekday average) (Regional Rail)
Rank 20 of 146 (Regional Rail)
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Norristown–Main Street Manayunk/​Norristown Line Conshohocken
Terminus Norristown High Speed Line Bridgeport
Former services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Valley Forge Park
toward Pottsville
Pottsville Line North Broad Street
Preceding station Lehigh Valley Transit Company Following station
Main Street
toward Allentown
Liberty Bell High Speed Line
Until 1951
Bridgeport
via Rink station
toward 69th Street
Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station
Abrams
toward Pottsville
Main Line Conshohocken
toward Philadelphia
Main Street
toward Elm Street
Norristown Branch Mogees
toward Philadelphia
Future services (2024)
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Norristown–Main Street Manayunk/​Norristown Line Conshohocken
Preceding station SEPTA Metro Following station
Terminus M1 Bridgeport

Norristown Transportation Center is a two-level multimodal public transportation regional hub located in Norristown, Pennsylvania and operated by SEPTA. It opened in 1989, replacing the older Norristown High Speed Line (Route 100) terminus one block away at Main and Swede Streets, and integrated the former Reading Company's DeKalb Street Norristown railroad station (built 1933) into its structure. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk between the bus lane and Lafayette Street commemorates the location of one of the columns of the dismantled segment of the Philadelphia and Western Railroad (P&W) trestle.

Regional rail service

The Norristown Transportation Center is a stop on the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line which offers service to Center City Philadelphia via Conshohocken and Manayunk.

In FY 2017, the regional rail service at Norristown Transportation Center had a weekday average of 856 boardings and 781 alightings.

Norristown High Speed Line

Norristown High Speed Line station

Norristown Transportation Center is the final stop on the Norristown High Speed Line which runs from 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby to Norristown.

Bus routes

In addition to rail service, NTC serves as the center of the Frontier District of SEPTA's Suburban Division bus routes, particularly the routes operating in Montgomery County. Bus routes serving NTC operate with a "timed transfer"; for the most part, buses leave at the same time, to maximize possible transfers between routes. These routes serve areas of Norristown and other areas in Montgomery County.

SEPTA Frontier District routes that serve Norristown Transportation Center are:

SEPTA Frontier District buses at night

NTC is located at DeKalb & Lafayette Streets near the banks of the Schuylkill River and boasts a parking garage (built in 2008). Along with the opening of the new garage, intercity bus service by Bieber Transportation Group, Greyhound, and Martz Trailways was introduced to Norristown. Bieber Transportation Group ended service to Norristown on April 1, 2018 while Martz Trailways service ended May 31, 2018.

Norristown Transportation Center was formerly an important transfer point between electric and Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDCs) service to points north, such as Valley Forge, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Reading and Pottsville. Pottsville line service was eliminated in 1981 due to budget cuts. Proposed restoration of service beyond Norristown, dubbed the Schuylkill Valley Metro, was canceled in 2006 after SEPTA failed to acquire necessary funding.

Station layout

An outbound Manayunk/Norristown Line train stops at the Norristown Transportation Center
High Speed Line platforms
Inbound      Norristown High Speed Line toward 69th Street (Bridgeport)
Island platform, doors will open on the left or right Disabled access
Inbound      Norristown High Speed Line toward 69th Street (Bridgeport)
Regional Rail platforms Side platform, doors will open on the right
Inbound      Manayunk/​Norristown Line toward 30th Street or Penn Medicine (Conshohocken)
Outbound      Manayunk/​Norristown Line toward Elm Street – Norristown (Main Street – Norristown)
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Old Norristown station configuration. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company's Liberty Bell High Speed Line was a continuation of the existing Norristown High Speed Line along Swede Road and then E. Airy Street before turning onto Markley Street where it meets up with the existing Manayunk/Norristown Line. The current Manayunk/Norristown Line continued to Valley Forge instead of going to Main Street along Lafayette Street.