Introduction
SEPTA Bus route 25 operates frequent service between Frankford Transit Center and 2nd & Spring Garden Streets L1 via Aramingo Avenue. Service on route 25 is provided by Frankford (District 2) depot.
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SEPTA Route 25 Routing
Route 25 operates from Frankford Transit Center L1 to Front-Spring Garden L1 Station, going via Bridge Street to Torresdale Avenue, then via Torresdale to Margaret/Orthodox Streets, then taking Orthodox (Margaret northbound) to Richmond Street, Richmond to Castor Avenue, Castor to Aramingo Avenue, then to York Street, Frankford Avenue, Delaware Avenue, then terminating at Front-Spring Garden L1 Station (though destination signs say 2nd-Spring Garden).
Key Transfer Points on Route 25
Transfer Points on route 25 include….
- Frankford Transit Center
- SEPTA Metro L1 at Frankford Transit Center
- SEPTA bus routes 3, 5, 8, 14, 19, 20, 24, 26, 50, 58, 66, 67, 72, 73, 82, 84, 88, Boulevard Direct
- Richmond and Orthodox Streets
- SEPTA bus routes 41 and 73
- Aramingo Avenue and Castor Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 53
- Frankford and Girard Avenues
- SEPTA bus routes 5 and 76
- Front-Spring Garden Station
Route 25 Origins
Route 25 started on November 5th 1922 by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, as a trolley line operating between 2nd & Dauphin Streets and 3rd & Ritner Streets via 2nd Street southbound and 3rd Street northbound, partially replacing previous route 18 trolley service (not related to current route 18 bus service) which previously operated between Lehigh Av & Memphis St and 29th-Snyder via Memphis/Cedar Strees, Girard Avenue, 2nd/3rd Streets, Chestnut/Walnut Streets, and 23rd/22nd Streets. This route would be simplified to operate between Front-Chestnut and 22nd & Snyder via Chestnut/Walnuts Streets and 22nd/23rd Streets on the same date route 25 was created.
The next year, on January 28th 1923, route 25 would be re-routed to operate between Lehigh Av & Memphis St and 3rd-Ritner. The service between Girard Avenue and Dauphin Street along this route 25 would be re-directed to route 5. Route 25 would otherwise follow the same routing as the former route 18 service in this area, operating via Girard Av to Norris St, Norris St to Thimpson St, Thompson St to York St, York St to Cedar St, and Cedar St to Lehigh Av, terminating at Lehigh Av & Memphis St northbound. Southbound would operate via Memphis to Susquehanna, then Susquehanna to Girard, then follow the original routing southbound via 2nd St and northbound via 3rd St to Ritner St.
Route 25 would operate in this manner for the next 7 years, but ultimately be shortened to operate between 2nd St & Girard Av and Lehigh Av & Memphis St on September 7th 1930.
Philadelphia Transportation Company took ownership of the line (and most of the rest of the system) on January 1st 1940. From here on, they would make their own changes.
There was short lived extension to Delaware-Richmond during shift changes at the Cramp’s Shipyard, operating between August 3rd 1942 and September 16th 1945.
Northbound service would be re-routed to operate via Delaware Avenue between Susquehanna Av and Norris Street on July 14th 1947
Ultimately, trolley service on route 25 would be discontinued on April 9th 1947.
As a bus, route 25 would be re-routed to terminate at the Front-Girard L1 station, operating (from Lehigh Av & Memphis St) via Memphis St to Palmer Street, then via Palmer to Frankford Avenue, and finally Frankford to Girard Avenue. This would be the final change made to route 25 while it was still operated by the Philadelphia Transportation Company.
Modern Route 25
SEPTA took ownership of the line the same date it took over PTC operations.
This first change that would come while route 25 was operated by SEPTA, wouldn’t come until June 14th 1987, as this is when route 25 would be extended north via Aramingo Avenue to Aramingo Avenue and Wheatsheaf Lane. The next change would come the same year on September 13th 1987 as route 25 would be extneded yet again to Richmond-Orthodox Streets.
Route 25 would be extended again the next year on February 28th 1988, which would be the date it was sent to Front-Spring Garden L1 Station.
Route 25 would get extended north via Torresdale Av & Bridge Street for Frankford Terminal (now Frankford Transit Center) September 7th 1997. This would have buses operate northbound via Aramingo Avenue to Orthodox Street, then via Orthodox to Richmond Street, via Richmond to Margaret, then via Margaret to Torresdale Avenue, Torredale to Bridge St, and finally Bridge Street to Frankford Terminal. The very next year, route 25 would get another extension via Columbus Boulevard to Pier 70 on December 6th 1998
More change would come to route 25 in 2004, as route 25 would be extended on the southern end to serve the Columbus Commons Shopping Plaza on September 3rd 2004.
The final change before the “new bus network” to route 25 would come on September 6th 2006. This change was more subtle, as this is when route 25 was realigned to operate via Aramingo to Castor Avenue, then via Castor to Richmond Street, then operate via Margaret/Orthodox to Torresdale, simplifying the Port Richmond service.
The next change to route 25 would not come until August 23rd 2026, as route 25 would be shortened to only operate between Frankford Transit Center and 2nd & Spring Garden Streets. All the Columbus Boulevard service would be re-directed to route 76 as part of the New Bus Network Phase 1.
Other Routes using the same numbers
A previous route 25 operated trolley between 48th-Parkside Loop and Beech & Green Streets via Fairmount Street westbound and Wallace/Green Street eastbound. Service on this version of route 25 was discontinued on September 6th 1919, replaced with an extension of route 43 trolley service.
New Bus Network Changes
On August 23rd 2026, SEPTA route 25 was shortened to operated between Frankford Transit Center and 2nd & Spring Garden Streets. Service along Memphis and Cedar streets was re-directed to Aramingo Avenue. Service between Spring Garden and Columbus Commons is now provided by bus route 76, that was created on the same date.
Timetables
SEPTA Route 25 is active, and you should check SEPTA’s official page for up to date schedules and information. Below are some historic timetables for SEPTA’s bus route 25. These are older (out of date) timetable scans with their effective dates listed. These are posted for archival and historical purposes only, and should not be used for actual trip planning.
- 1989
- 1993
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- June 7th 1998 (From the collection of Matt Ciecka)
- 1999
- 2006
- 2007
- 2012
- 2013
Audio Announcements
Here are the exterior/door audio announcements for SEPTA Route 25.