Introduction
SEPTA bus route 28 operates from Torresdale-Cottman Loop (Tacony) to Fern Rock Transit Center via Rhawn Street, Elkins Park, and Melrose Park. Service on route 28 is provided by Comly (District 1) Depot.
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Transfer Points along route 28
Route 28 has many transfer points including…
- Fern Rock Transit Center
- 11th Street and 66th Avenue
- Huntingdon Pike and Cedar Avenue, Hollywood
- SEPTA bus route 24
- Oxford Avenue and Rhawn Street, Fox Chase
- SEPTA bus routes 18, 24
- Regional Rail Lines: Fox Chase
- Rhawn Street and Algon Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 19
- Rhawn Street and Castor Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 59
- Rhawn Street and Bustleton Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 58
- Rhawn Street and Roosevelt Boulevard
- SEPTA bus routes 1, 14, 20, 50, Boulevard Direct
- Rhawn Street and Frankford Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 66
- Torresdale-Cottman Loop
- SEPTA bus routes 56, 70, 84
Route 28 Origins
Route 28‘s origins actually go back to two routes, both of which were discontinued in the 80s.
- Route T – Morrell Park, Holme Circle, or Welsh & Darrington Roads
- This route’s southern Terminus was Erie-Torresdale before it was discontinued, but was also Church Station and Arrott Terminal at points.
- Route XA Fern Rock Terminal to Fox Chase Manor via Fern Rock, Elkins Park, and Melrose Park
Route T Bus History, 1926-1982
Route T was established on February 2nd 1926, operating between Frankford-Ruan (Church Street L1 Station) to Frankford Avenue and Rhawn Street via Tacony Street and State Road.
Route T would be modified thoughout the 1940’s, with an extension to Willits & Crispin to the North, and a slight re-route in the south to have the line operate westbound via Ruan/Church Streets, and Eastbound via Margaret Street. The Southern Terminus was also rotated between Chruch L1 Station and Margaret-Orthodox L1 Station. By 1950, the established route would be between Margaret-Orthodox L1 Station and Willits & Crispin.
On September 12th 1954 there would be a slight northern extension of route T to Convent Avenue & Annapolis Street.
Route T would be re-routed on February 24, 1957. The northen end of route T would operate via Rhawn Street to Roosevelt Boulevard and Rhawn Street. This service would be extended west via Rhawn Street to Fox Chase Loop two years later on September 8th 1959 as part of the Operation Northeast agreement with the Reading Railroad. On the same date, the southern terminus of route T was moved back to Church Street Station, and buses would operate east on Orthodox Street and West on Margaret Street.
On January 21st 1968, service on bus route 86 that operated from Frankford Avenue & Rhawn Street to Bustleton Avenue & Verree Road was discontinued, and a branch of route T would be created operating that same stretch, but terminating at Darlington Road & Welsh Road in Pine Valley.
While I-95 was being constructed between 1971 and 1974 route T would operate on intermenttent detours for the service on State Road/Tacony Street, but service would be restored on January 27th 1974. An express variant of route T would be established on January 28th 1973, operating via I-95 to Cottman Avenue.
Another final branch of route T would be established on June 16th 1974, operating via Torresdale Ave, Linden Ave, Grant Av, Morell Road, and Knights to Knights and Woodhaven Roads. The express service of route T would also be exteneded to Linden Avenue on the same date.
The southern terminus would be changed one final time on June 15th 1975, as route T would be extended south to Erie-Torresdale L1 Station.
The Knights Road branch of route T would be limited to rush hours only, beginning on September 5th 1976.
SEPTA’s Route T bus would be discontinued on January 31st 1982, and service was split up as follows:
- The Rhawn Street service would be re-designated route 28
- Operating between Torresdale-Cottman Loop & Fox Chase Loop via Rhawn Street
- The Welsh Road service would be re-designated as route 41
- Operating between Torresdale-Cottman Loop and Welsh Road & Darlington via Welsh Road
- The remaining service would be added to route 84
Route XA Bus History
Route XA was established on April 1, 1949, operating between Olney Terminal (Broad & Chew) and Fox Chase Manor via Fern Rock, Elkins Park, and Melrose Park. Thorough it’s history, route XA would only go through one major change on March 29th 1959, where the southern terminus would be changed to Fern Rock Station, alongside route XO which would be re-routed on the same date.
SEPTA Route XA would be discontinued on September 10th 1988, and merged into route 28.
Route 28 1982-Present.
SEPTA route 28 was established on January 31st 1982, replacing the Rhawn Street branch of route T, which was discontinued the same date. Route 28 as established, operated between Torresdale-Cottman Loop and Fox Chase Loop via Rhawn Street. Service on route 28 was also inter-lined with service on route 41, with buses occassionally switching routes at Torresdale-Cottman. Both route 28 and 41 would have limited hour trips to the prisons on State Road.
Route 41 would be discontinued on September 13th 1987, and a branch of route 88 would be created to operate via Welsh Road on the same date.
The first and only major change to route 28 came on September 11th 1988, where route 28 was extended west via Elkins Park and Melrose Park to Fern Rock Terminal (now Fern Rock Transit Center), replacing service on route XA which was discontinued on the same date.
Other routes with the same numbers
The number 28 and 41 was used multiple times throgouut SEPTA’s history, as did the letter T.
- Route 28 2nd & Dock Street to Front and Tioga Street via Front, 2nd and 3rd Streets
- Service started in 1872, though the number wasn’t assigned until May 25th 1913
- Service discontinued on November 4th 1922
- Route 41 Front & Market Streets to 69th Street Terminal via Market Street
- Trolley service started January 16th 1911, but the route 41 wasn’t assigned until September 1st 1913.
- Service discontinued on September 20th 1920, and consolidated into route 31 service
- Route 41 63rd & Market Streets to 63rd Street & Malvern Avenue Loop via 63rd Street
- Trolley service started on October 9th 1921
- Service discontinued August 10th 1957, and consolidated into route 31 service
- Route 41 is currently bus service from Germantown to Bridesburg via Lindley Avenue and Margaret/Orthodox Streets.
- SEPTA Metro T Lines is the system of trolleys that operate in the subway-surface tunnels.
Timetables
Route 28 is still active, so it would be best to check SEPTA’s official website for up-to-date timetables for route 28. Below are older, outdated scans of timetables with their effective dates listed. These are all older, historic scans, for archival and educational purposes only.
- SEPTA Route 28
- 1991
- 1992
- 1996
- 1997
- 2002
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2020