View source for SEPTA Route 15

{{Short description|SEPTA trolley line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| color                           = {{rcr|SEPTA Metro|G}}
| name                            = Route 15 Trolley (G)
| logo                            = SEPTARoute15.svg
| logo_width                      = 50px
| logo2                           = SEPTA G icon.svg
| logo_width2                     = 50px
| image                           = Route 15 PCC.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = SEPTA PCC II operating on the Route 15
| locale                          = [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
| operator                        = [[SEPTA]]
| type                            = [[Light rail]]
| start                           = [[63rd Street station (SEPTA Route 15)|63rd Street and Girard Avenue]]
| end                             = [[Richmond-Westmoreland Streets Loop|Richmond and Westmoreland Streets]]
| system                          = [[SEPTA Metro]]
| status                          = Limited service, [[Rail replacement bus service|bus shuttle]]
| website                         = {{url|septa.org/schedules/G1}}
| open                            = 1859; 2005; 2024<ref name=Myers/>
| close                           = 1992–2005; 2020–2024
| linelength                      = {{convert|8.4|mi|km|abbr=out}}<ref name="SEPTA-Stats" /><ref name="SEPTA-Media" />
| routes                          = {{plainlist|
* {{ric|SEPTA Metro|G1}}{{nbsp}}All Stops
}}
| daily_ridership                 = 9,032 (ave. weekday, FY 2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.septa.org/reports/pdf/asp14.pdf |title=Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Service Plan |publisher=[[SEPTA]] |page=40 |date=May 2013 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922180727/http://septa.org/reports/pdf/asp14.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2013 }}</ref>
| depot                           = [[Callowhill Depot|Callowhill]]
| stations                        = 64 stops
| stock                           = [[SEPTA PCC III]]
| electrification                 = {{600 V DC|conductor=overhead}}
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|5ft21/4in}} [[Pennsylvania trolley gauge]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillytrolley.org/1974history/2-3.html|page=2|title=The history of trolley cars and routes in Philadelphia|publisher=[[SEPTA]]|date=June 1, 1974|access-date=June 11, 2014|quote=An early city ordinance prescribed that all tracks were to have a gauge of 5' 2{{citefrac|1|4}}"}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=George W.|last1=Hilton|first2=John Fitzgerald|last2=Due |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2zH-zcuU-MC&pg=PA51 |title=The Electric Interurban Railways in America|publisher=Stanford University Press|date=January 1, 2000|isbn=9780804740142|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>
| minradius                       = 
| map                             = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|from=SEPTA Route 15.map}}
|Show interactive map
|{{SEPTA Route 15}}
|Show route diagram map
}}
| map_state                       = 
}}
'''Route 15''',{{efn|Also known as the '''Girard Avenue Line'''}} currently rebranding as the '''G''',{{efn|[[Naming convention|Conventions]] for future line names state they are to be referred to by letter only (i.e. "the G", not "the G line")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwww.septa.org/metro/unification-reorganization/|title=SEPTA Metro: Unification and Reorganization|publisher=[[SEPTA]]|access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref>}} is a streetcar line in the [[SEPTA Metro]] network that runs along [[Girard Avenue]] through [[North Philadelphia|North]] and [[West Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Service is operated by the [[SEPTA#City Transit Division|City Transit Division]] of the [[SEPTA|Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]]. {{As of|2024}}, it is the only trolley line in [[Philadelphia]] that is not part of the [[SEPTA subway–surface trolley lines|subway–surface trolley lines]]. [[SEPTA PCC III]] vehicles are used on the line.

The line was first opened in 1859 as a [[horse car]] line operated by the '''Richmond and Schuylkill River Passenger Railway''', and [[electrified (rail)|electrified]] in 1895, with extensions in 1902 and 1903.<ref name="Route15-history">{{cite web | title = 1974 SEPTA Trolley History Brochure | publisher = Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | website = Philadelphia Trolley Tracks (PhillyTrolleys.org) | url = http://www.phillytrolley.org/1974history/8-9.html | year = 1974 | access-date = August 28, 2013}}</ref> Service was "[[Rail replacement bus service|bustituted]]" in 1992, along with [[SEPTA Route 23|Route 23]] (Germantown Avenue-11th and 12th Streets) and [[SEPTA Route 56|Route 56]] (Torresdale-Erie Avenues). On September 4, 2005, trolley service was restored.

On April 29, 2012, east of Frankford Avenue, the line started being operated by buses due to major reconstruction.  West of Frankford Avenue, the line was still run by PCC II cars. Trolleys terminated at [[Frankford and Delaware Avenue station|Frankford and Delaware Avenues]] (Northern Liberties Loop) while buses terminated at [[Girard station (Market–Frankford Line)|Girard Station]] under the [[Market-Frankford Line]]. {{as of|January 2020}}, the full line is being substituted by a [[Rail replacement bus service|bus bridge]] to allow for rolling stock maintenance, track repairs, and a nearby highway expansion. Trolley service was originally anticipated to return in late 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/01/22/route-15-trolleys-septa/|title=SEPTA Says the Historic Route 15 Trolleys Will Return Late Next Year|last=Sasko |first=Claire |date=January 22, 2020|website=PhiladelphiaMagazine.com |access-date=April 28, 2023}}</ref> As of August 2023, six of the 18 cars were restored but still not enough to resume trolley service.<ref name="PCC-Return-Date">{{cite web |last1=Sharber |first1=Cory |title=SEPTA's Route 15 historic trolleys to return Sept. 10 |url=https://whyy.org/articles/historic-septa-trolleys-to-return-to-service/ |website=WHYY |access-date=August 25, 2023 |date=August 16, 2023}}</ref>  SEPTA expected trolleys would be in service in late 2023.<ref name="PCC-Fall2023-Return">{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Brian |title=Return of SEPTA's classic trolleys delayed until later this fall
|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/septa-classic-trolleys-return-date-route-15/|website=PhillyVoice|access-date=September 7, 2023 |date=September 7, 2023}}</ref> However, that goal was also not met. Trolleys finally returned to service on June 16, 2024.<ref name="Trolleys-Restored-New-Date">{{Cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Thomas |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Restored 1947 trolleys will return to Girard Avenue's Route 15 next week. SEPTA says it's not a rumor this time. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-trolleys-back-pcc-1947-20240611.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611192305/https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-trolleys-back-pcc-1947-20240611.html |archive-date=June 11, 2024 |access-date=June 11, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref><ref name=Myers>{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Michelle |title='The Tesla of trolleys': Behold the return of SEPTA's cream-and-green 1947 trolleys |url=https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-trolleys-back-pcc-route-15-20240616.html |website=www.inquirer.com |publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |access-date=17 June 2024 |language=en |date=16 June 2024}}</ref>

==Route==
The Girard Avenue Line's {{convert|8.4|mi|km}}<ref name="SEPTA-Stats">{{cite web | title = SEPTA - Spring 2012 Route Statistics | publisher = Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | url = http://www.septa.org/reports/pdf/route-statistics.pdf | year = 2012 | access-date = June 28, 2013 | archive-date = May 24, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130524014002/http://www.septa.org/reports/pdf/route-statistics.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="SEPTA-Media">{{cite web | title = SEPTA - Media Guide | publisher = Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | url = http://www.septa.org/media/guide/pdf/media-guide.pdf | year = 2013 | access-date = July 17, 2013 | archive-date = April 17, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180417143227/http://www.septa.org/media/guide/pdf/media-guide.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title = Cash-short SEPTA presses on with capital program | journal = [[Railway Age]] | date = October 1, 2004}}</ref> route runs along [[Girard Avenue]] and Richmond Street. The western terminus of Route 15 is at the intersection of [[63rd Street station (SEPTA Route 15)|Girard Avenue and 63rd Street]], and instantly passes by [[Carroll Park, Philadelphia|Carroll Park]]. The next landmark is Cathedral Cemetery, where both Route 15 and Girard Avenue briefly overlap with [[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|US 30]] ([[Lancaster Avenue]]) and the [[SEPTA Route 10]] trolley. The line leaves Lancaster Avenue and resumes its way along Girard Avenue. After crossing over the [[Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line|Philadelphia–Harrisburg line]] at the intersection with Belmont Avenue, the line passes by the [[Philadelphia Zoo]] near Exit 342 on the [[Schuylkill Expressway]] before crossing the [[Schuylkill River]] over the [[Girard Avenue Bridge]].

After entering Brewerytown, Route 15 loops partially around the south side of [[Girard College]], but rejoins Girard Avenue again, and passes by the former Saint Joseph's Hospital. The first mass transit crossing the line encounters is the [[Broad Street Line]]'s [[Girard (BSL station)|Girard Station]], and two blocks from there crosses the [[SEPTA Route 23]] bus line (which was originally a trolley line that may be restored in the future; however SEPTA has removed all connecting track & overhead wires for Route 23 at this location in 2014 completely ending any connection to the North Philadelphia Trolley Network). Directly east of the [[SEPTA Main Line]] overpass at 9th Street, Route 15 passes by the Girard Medical Center. At [[Front Street (Philadelphia)|Front Street]] Route 15 runs beneath the [[Market–Frankford Line]]'s [[Girard (MFL station)|Girard Station]], and then crosses Frankford Avenue, one of the two streets the line is named after.

In 2011, SEPTA completed a new loop for Route 15 at the intersection of Frankford and Delaware Avenues, reached via new trackage down Frankford from Girard. On April 29, 2012, SEPTA began using this loop. This loop is across from the [[SugarHouse Casino|Rivers Casino]] which opened in September 2010, and is also a natural turnback point due to high ridership turnover at Front Street and Girard for the Market-Frankford Line. The loop was the temporary eastern terminus of Route 15 until SEPTA finished replacing track on Richmond between Girard Ave and Ann Street between spring and late 2012, due to [[Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 95]]-related reconstruction along Richmond Street (see section below).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillytrolley.org/2012railrenewal/2012railrenewal_00.html |title=2012 Route 15 Rail Renewal |website=Philadelphia Trolley Tracks (PhillyTrolleys.org) |access-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> With resumption of trolley service on June 16, 2024, this loop was only used for select bus trips.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wwww.septa.org/bulletins/attention-route-15-trolley-g-riders-partial-service-returns/ | title=Bulletins – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority }}</ref>

Girard Avenue ends at Exit 23 on I-95, so Route 15 moves beneath the highway onto Richmond Street, parallel to I-95 until it crosses over the street from the north side to the south side before Exit 25, the interchange with Allegheny Avenue, where it connects to the [[SEPTA Route 60]] bus, another former trolley line. The road runs along the Richmond Playground before Route 15's eastern terminus at the [[Richmond-Westmoreland Streets Loop|Westmoreland Loop]], on the southwest corner of the intersection of Richmond Street and Westmoreland Street.

In addition to the Frankford and Delaware loop, two other short-turn loops exist: at 41st & Parkside, just west of the Philadelphia Zoo, and at 26th & Girard (a bidirectional "in-line" cutback utilizing 26th and Poplar Streets and Girard and College Avenues). No scheduled runs use these loops. Another such loop, located at Richmond Street & Cumberland Avenues, was frequently used when Richmond Street was blocked by trucks which failed to heed warning signs and flashing lights for a low bridge underneath the former [[Reading Company|Reading]] Port Richmond Yard of [[Conrail Shared Assets Operations]]. This loop has since been removed. Cars returning to Callowhill Depot turn off Girard at 60th Street.

==History==
The '''Richmond and Schuylkill River Passenger Railway''' was chartered by the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] on March 26, 1859, to operate along Girard Avenue between the [[Girard Avenue Bridge]] over the [[Schuylkill River]] in [[Fairmount Park, Philadelphia|Fairmount Park]] and Norris Street in [[Richmond, Philadelphia|Richmond]], with an extension authorized west over the bridge to [[Lancaster Avenue]].<ref name=laws>Public Laws 241 and 242 of 1859 and 1862 of 1861, reprinted in Law Department of the City of Philadelphia, [https://books.google.com/books?id=pFM9IQEaeNQC A Digest of Laws Relating to the City of Pennsylvania], 1865, pp. 111–113 (appendix)</ref> The line opened from Second Street to 31st Street<ref name="Railopenings">{{cite web | url=http://www.publictransit.us/ptlibrary/NorthAmericaRailTransitOpenings/Railopenings_US_Updated2011.pdf | last=Demery Jr. | first=Leroy W. | title=U.S. Urban Rail Transit Lines Opened From 1980 | website=publictransit.us | pages=37–40 | date=November 2011 | access-date=November 2, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104023212/http://www.publictransit.us/ptlibrary/NorthAmericaRailTransitOpenings/Railopenings_US_Updated2011.pdf | archive-date=November 4, 2013 }}</ref> in July 1859.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} The company was sold at [[foreclosure]] and reorganized as the '''Fairmount Park and Delaware River Passenger Railway''' on June 14, 1864,{{Citation needed|date=May 2007|reason=http://www.chicagorailfan.com/phlhisc.html has the year, but not the exact date}} and was merged into the Germantown Passenger Railway ([[Route 23 (SEPTA)|Route 23]] Germantown Avenue) on February 15, 1866.<ref name="ASRI1897">[https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn-jZRn57YUC American Street Railway Investments], a Supplement to the [[Street Railway Journal]], 1897, p. 198, 200, 204</ref>

Extensions were opened east to Palmer Street in 1866 (looping via Palmer, Beach, and Shackamaxon Streets<ref name=medical>William B. Atkinson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mk22oTvu_F4C The Philadelphia Medical Register and Directory], 1875</ref>) and to Norris Street in 1875.<ref name="Railopenings" /> The People's Passenger Railway leased the line on October 1, 1881, and leased the '''Girard Avenue Railway''' (chartered May 17, 1894) on June 22, 1896,<ref name=ASRI1897/> extending the line west to 60th Street in 1900.<ref name="Railopenings" /> The Union Traction Company leased the People's Passenger Railway on July 1, 1896, giving it control over almost all the street railways in Philadelphia.<ref name=ASRI1897/> Girard Avenue cars were extended west to 63rd Street and east to Allegheny Avenue – the latter extension along the ex-Electric Traction Company Bridesburg Line on Richmond Street – in 1903,<ref name="Railopenings" /> and eventually replaced the Bridesburg Line entirely to [[Bridesburg, PA|Bridesburg]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} In 1992, SEPTA replaced trolley service along Routes 15, [[SEPTA Route 23|23]], and [[SEPTA Route 56|56]] with [[transit bus|buses]].

[[PCC car]]s were first introduced to Route 15 on Sundays (and later [[40-hour working week|on Saturdays as well]]) in 1948 using postwar cars at Callowhill Depot that would have been otherwise idle on the weekend.  They provided all service on the 15 in June 1955 after a cascade of postwar cars from other lines occurred when used PCC cars were purchased from [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] and [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref name=fwsiii>{{cite book |last1=Schneider|first1=Fred W. III|last2=Carlson|first2=Stephen P. |title=PCC From Coast to Coast: Interurbans Special 86 |year=1983 |publisher=Interurban Press |location=Glendale, California |isbn=0-916374-57-2 |pages=144, 152}}</ref> Service was cut back to Richmond & Westmoreland on February 24, 1956. PCCs provided all trolley service until SEPTA replaced the trolleys with buses on September 13, 1992. Trolley service returned briefly to Route 15 later in the 1990s using [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki]] cars from Route 10 temporarily made surplus by [[water main]] replacement along the surface portion of Route 10.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

===2005 trolley restoration===
The 15 line returned to trolley service on September 4, 2005, after having been served by buses for thirteen years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iseptaphilly.com/blog/TrolleyRoute15|title=Route of the Week - 15|website=www.iseptaphilly.com|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> To prepare for the resumption of trolley service, SEPTA spent a total of [[US dollar|$]]100 million, including rehabilitating the tracks and repairs to the [[overhead lines|overhead wires]]. The rolling stock for Route 15 consists of PCC II cars, which are 1947 [[St. Louis Car Company|St. Louis Car]]-built [[PCC streetcar]]s that had been completely rebuilt by the [[Brookville Locomotive Company|Brookville Equipment Company]] at a cost of $1.3 million per trolley in 2003-2004.  The rebuilt trolley includes the addition of air conditioning and [[Regenerative brake|regenerative braking]], as well as a widened center door with a wheelchair lift for ADA compliance.<ref>"Philadelphia's PCCs Return to Service." ''Railway Age.''  Vol. 205, No. 10, p. 30. October 1, 2005.</ref>

The restoration of trolley service was delayed because of a long fight with local residents on 59th Street, which the trolleys needed to travel down in order to access the [[Callowhill Depot]], over parking on the street.<ref>[http://citypaper.net/articles/2004-09-30/cb5.shtml citypaper.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001234707/http://citypaper.net/articles/2004-09-30/cb5.shtml |date=October 1, 2015 }} Amy L. Webb (2004). "Communication Breakdown." ''Philadelphia City Paper.'' September 30, 2004.</ref> During the reconstruction of the line the surrounding neighborhoods, through grassroots coalitions, worked to improve the Girard Avenue streetscape through beautification and marketing projects. Since service returned in 2005, the 15 line has spurred various development projects as well as renewed investment along the corridor.<ref>"Changing Skyline: Welcome Back Girard Avenue A Street Reborn" ''Philadelphia Inquirer''  January 9, 2004.</ref>

In 2018 a comprehensive analysis of SEPTA's surface operations called for abandonment of trolley operations citing the rail car's inability to get around double-parked cars and other obstacles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whyy.org/segments/overhauling-its-bus-network-may-be-on-septas-schedule-soon/ |title=Overhauling its bus network may be on SEPTA's schedule soon |last=Saska |first=Jim |date=June 21, 2018 |website=WHYY.org |access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>

===Port Richmond reconstruction and I-95===
Route 15 east of the new Northern Liberties loop is being rebuilt as part of a reconstruction project for [[Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 95]]. The components of the I-95 project related to Route 15 include reconstruction of Girard Avenue's bridge over Aramingo Avenue, and widening and partial realignment of Richmond Street. All the tracks in these areas will be replaced, except for the Richmond & Cumberland loop which will be removed. Also part of the project is the construction of four separate bridges for [[Conrail Shared Assets Operations|Conrail]] tracks over a realigned Richmond Street to replace the low-clearance nuisance bridge left over from the former Port Richmond Yard. The new bridges, rationalized in width to current Conrail trackage, will provide much greater road clearance by virtue of being relocated away from underneath the I-95 viaduct. Route 15 east of Frankford Avenue to the [[Frankford and Delaware Avenue station]] and the [[SugarHouse Casino]] will be served by a shuttle bus for the duration of the project, which is expected to last through 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.95revive.com/girard-avenue-interchange-overview.aspx |title=SEPTA Route 15 Trolley Detour in Fishtown, Port Richmond |website=95revive.com |publisher=PennDOT District 6 |format=pdf |date=January 2016 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226212125/http://95revive.com/girard-avenue-interchange-overview.aspx |archive-date=February 26, 2014 }}</ref> On January 21, 2020, SEPTA officials announced that buses would be replacing the streetcars along the whole route for a period of at least 18 months.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whyy.org/articles/septa-taking-girard-ave-trolley-off-the-rails-78-of-fleet-cant-pass-inspection/|title=SEPTA taking Girard Ave. trolley off the rails; 78 percent of fleet can't pass inspection |date=January 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 }}</ref>

===2021 SEPTA Metro redesign plans===
[[File:SEPTA G icon.svg|thumb|150px|Proposed new logo for the Girard Avenue Line under the SEPTA Metro wayfinding project<ref name=wayfinding/>]]
[[File:SEPTA G1 icon.svg|thumb|150px|Proposed new logo for Route 15 local under the SEPTA Metro wayfinding project<ref name=wayfinding/>]]
In 2021, SEPTA proposed rebranding their rail transit service as "SEPTA Metro" to make the system easier to navigate. Under this proposal, services along the Girard Avenue Line will be rebranded as the "G" lines with a yellow color, each receiving a numeric suffix. Local service would become the G1 Girard Avenue Local.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vitarelli|first1=Alicia|author2=Staff|date=September 7, 2021|title=SEPTA Metro? Transit agency mulling big changes including new name, map, and signage|publisher=WPVI-TV|location=Philadelphia, PA|url=https://6abc.com/septa-transportation-public-transit-navigation-city-commuting/11007031/|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref><ref name=wayfinding>{{cite web|title=Wayfinding Recommendations|url=https://planning.septa.org/projects/wayfinding-master-plan/recommendations/|publisher=SEPTA|accessdate=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907141259/https://planning.septa.org/projects/wayfinding-master-plan/recommendations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following a period of public comment, Route 15's proposed name was simplified to "G Line."<ref name=feedback>{{Cite web |title=Design Concept Feedback |url=https://planning.septa.org/design-concept-feedback/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=planning.septa.org |publisher=SEPTA}}</ref>

===Future rolling stock===
In 2023, SEPTA awarded [[Alstom|Alstom Transportation]] the contract to furbish 130 new low-floor trams for the existing Subway[[Media–Sharon Hill Line|–]]Surface lines, along with the [[Media–Sharon Hill Line]], with an option for 30 more. These 30 extra trams, if ordered, would replace the existing PCC-III trolleys on Route 15. The trolleys would be of [[Alstom Citadis|Alstom's Citadis]] family and would be 80 feet in length and low-floor (and therefore fully ADA-compliant). While the existing PCC-III trolleys are ADA-compliant as a result of their wheelchair lift, this lift is cumbersome and presents a significant source of delays across the line during regular operation. The first trolley is expected to be delivered from Alstom in the Spring of 2027, with the last trolley from the base order to be delivered some time in 2030.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacDonald |first1=Tom |title=New SEPTA trolleys will soon replace an aging fleet |url=https://whyy.org/articles/new-septa-trolleys/ |website=[[WHYY-FM|WHYY]] |access-date=February 12, 2024 |date=February 24, 2023 |quote=SEPTA will also refurbish its PCC trolley fleet in order to help keep service running on some lines before the new vehicles come to town.}}</ref>

SEPTA does not plan on reconstructing the Route 15 for its Trolley Modernization Program until 2041 at the earliest.<ref>{{cite web |title=SEPTA Trolley Modernization Program Manager RFP |url=https://wwww.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/bid/NMG732-Addendum2RFP.pdf |access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>

=== 2023-2024 trolley restoration ===
As of July 7, 2023, the I-95 reroute work had been substantially completed, but trolley service not yet restored. WHYY reported that SEPTA officials had stated that several of the now twice refurbished [[SEPTA PCC III|PCC-II]] cars were in testing on the route and "at least" eight would be ready by "the end of the summer [2023]." [...] "The plan is to use trolleys and buses to serve Route 15, which allows us to deploy the restored trolleys while maintaining frequency on the route,” a SEPTA spokesperson told Billy Penn.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prihar |first=Asher |date=July 7, 2023 |title="Historic trolleys will return to Girard Avenue service in September, SEPTA says" |publisher=[[WHYY-FM|WHYY]] |url=https://billypenn.com/2023/07/07/septa-historic-trolleys-girard-avenue-route-15/ |access-date=July 21, 2023}}</ref> As of August 2023, six of the cars had been restored, and SEPTA had announced a partial restoration of trolley service starting September 10, 2023.<ref name="PCC-Return-Date" /> However, citing the need for more operator training, the agency has delayed the restoration, though still expected to resume trolley service sometime in late 2023.<ref name="PCC-Fall2023-Return" /> The restoration has since been pushed back to spring 2024.<ref name="PCC-Spring2024-Return">{{cite web |last1=MacDonald |first1=Tom |title=SEPTA pushes back the return of vintage trolleys |url=https://whyy.org/articles/septa-vintage-trolley-cars-delayed/ |website=[[WHYY-FM|WHYY]] |access-date=February 12, 2024 |date=February 12, 2024}}</ref> In June, SEPTA announced eight restored trolleys will resume service alongside buses on June 16, 2024.<ref name="Trolleys-Restored-New-Date"></ref><ref name=Myers/>

==Stations==
All stations are in the [[City of Philadelphia]].
{|class="wikitable"
!Neighborhood
!Station or stop
!Connections
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=12|[[Haddington, Philadelphia|Haddington]]–<br />[[Carroll Park, Philadelphia|Carroll Park]] line
|63rd & Girard ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|31}}
|
|-
|63rd & Haverford ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|30|31}}
|
|-
|62nd & Girard ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|
|
|-
|62nd & Haverford ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|30}}
|
|-
|61st & Girard ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|
|
|-
|61st & Haverford ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|30}}
|
|-
|60th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|30|46}}
|
|-
|59th & Girard
|
|
|-
|57th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|G}}
|
|-
|56th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|G}}
|
|-
|54th & Girard
|
|
|-
|52nd & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|52}}
|
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Mill Creek, Philadelphia|Mill Creek]]–<br />[[Cathedral Park, Philadelphia|Cathedral Park]] line
|51st & Girard
|
|
|-
|49th & Girard
|
|
|-
|Girard & Lancaster ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|{{ric|SEPTA Metro|name=y}}: {{ric|SEPTA Metro|T1|name=y}}
|
|-
|Merion & Girard
|
|
|-
|Belmont & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|43}}
|
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Parkside, Philadelphia|Parkside]]
|42nd & Girard
|
|
|-
|41st & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|40}}
|
|-
|40th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|38|40}}
|
|-
|39th & Girard
|
|
|-
|34th & Girard
|
|Access to [[Philadelphia Zoo]]
|-
|rowspan=9|[[Fairmount, Philadelphia|Fairmount]]–<br />[[Brewerytown, Philadelphia|Brewerytown]] line
|33rd & Girard ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|32}}
|
|-
|31st & Girard
|
|
|-
|29th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|7|48|49}}
|
|-
|28th & Girard
|
|
|-
|27th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|7}}
|
|-
|26th & Girard
|
|
|-
|Poplar & 26th ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|32}}
|
|-
|Stillman & Poplar ({{abbr|EB|eastbound}})
|
|
|-
|25th & Poplar ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|
|
|-
|rowspan=8|[[Fairmount, Philadelphia|Fairmount]]–<br />[[Cecil B. Moore, Philadelphia|Cecil B. Moore]] line
|24th & College
|
|
|-
|Corinthian & Girard
|
|
|-
|20th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|33}}
|
|-
|19th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|33}}
|
|-
|Ridge & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|61}}
|
|-
|17th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|2}}
|
|-
|16th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|2}}
|
|-
|[[Girard station (Broad Street Line)|Broad & Girard]]
|{{ric|SEPTA Metro|name=y}}: {{ric|SEPTA Metro|B|name=y}} {{small|(at {{stl|SEPTA|Girard|Broad Street}})}}<br />{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|4|16}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Poplar, Philadelphia|West Poplar]]–<br />[[Yorktown, Philadelphia|Yorktown]] line
|12th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|23}}
|
|-
|11th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|23}}
|
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Poplar, Philadelphia|Poplar]]–<br />[[Ludlow, Philadelphia|Ludlow]] line
|8th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|47}}
|
|-
|7th & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|47}}
|
|-
|5th & Girard
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Northern Liberties, Philadelphia|Northern Liberties]]–<br />[[Olde Kensington, Philadelphia|Olde Kensington]] line
|4th & Girard ({{abbr|WB|westbound}})
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|57}}
|
|-
|3rd & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|5|57}}
|
|-
|2nd & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|5}}
|
|-
|[[Girard station (Market–Frankford Line)|Front & Girard]]
|{{ric|SEPTA Metro|name=y}}: {{ric|SEPTA Metro|L|name=y}} {{small|(at {{stl|SEPTA|Girard|Market–Frankford}})}}<br />{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|5}}
|
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Fishtown, Philadelphia|Fishtown]]
|Frankford & Girard
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|5|25}}
|
|-
|Richmond & Frankford
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|25}}
|
|-
|[[Frankford and Delaware Avenue station|Frankford & Delaware]]
|{{rint|bus|1|link=SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes}} [[SEPTA City Transit Division surface routes|SEPTA City Bus]]: {{SEPTA bus link|25|43}}
|Access to The Fillmore
|}

==References==

=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.septa.org/schedules/trolley/pdf/015.pdf |title=schedule }}&nbsp;{{small|(84.7&nbsp;KB)}} and {{cite web |url= http://www.septa.org/maps/trolley/pdf/015.pdf |title= maps |access-date= October 31, 2010 |archive-date= January 7, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190107190710/http://www.septa.org/maps/trolley/pdf/015.pdf |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(23.7&nbsp;KB)}}
*[https://www.angelfire.com/mi/oraclekat/philly/15.htm Photos of SEPTA Route 15 trolleys]

{{SEPTA |state=autocollapse}}
{{Delaware Valley transit}}
{{USLightRail}}
{{Heritage Streetcars}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Crossings
|place           = [[Schuylkill River]]
|bridge          = Girard Avenue Trolley
|bridge signs    = 
|upstream        = [[Pennsylvania Railroad, Connecting Railway Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = 
|downstream      = [[Fairmount Waterworks#Fairmount Dam|Fairmount Dam]]
|downstream signs = 
}}

[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1859]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 1992]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2005]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 2020]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2024]]
[[Category:SEPTA Light Rail|15]]
[[Category:Streetcars in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Heritage streetcar systems]]
[[Category:5 ft 2¼ in gauge railways in the United States]]
[[Category:Tram routes in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:600 V DC railway electrification]]
[[Category:Heritage railroads in Pennsylvania]]