Introduction
SEPTA Bus Route 57 operates from Fern Rock Transit Center to Whitman Plaza via 3rd/4th Streets in South Philadelphia, and American Street in North Philadelphia. Service on route 57 is split between Midvale Depot (District 3) and Southern Depot (District 7).
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SEPTA Route 57 Routing
SEPTA route 57 operates between Fern Rock Transit Center and Whitman Plaza operating crosstown via Godfrey Avenue, then via Front Street to Olney Avenue, then via Rising Sun Avenue to Wingohocking Street, diverting back over to Front Street, and operating via Front to Lehigh (south of Erie, it’s southbound via 2nd and northbound via Front). Then from Lehigh, Route 57 operates via American Street to Oxford Street (Thompson northbound) and diverting over to operate via 4th Street (3rd Street Northbound) through Center City and to Washington Avenue, finally diverting over to Moyamensing Avenue, to 4th Street, and terminating at Whitman Plaza.
Once an hour, service on route 57 operates via 2nd Street, Cheltenham Avenue, and Crescentville Road alongside route 72.
Key Transfer Points on Route 57
SEPTA Route 57 operates north-south service, and has many transfer points to crosstown service, including…
- Fern Rock Transit Center
- Front Street and Champlost Avenue
- SEPTA bus routes K, 72
- Rising Sun and Olney Avenues
- SEPTA bus routes 18, 26, 76
- Front Street and Erie Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 56
- Girard Avenue and 2nd Street
- SEPTA Metro G1 line at Girard-2nd
- SEPTA bus route 5
- Walnut Street (3rd St northbound, 4th Street southbound)
- SEPTA bus routes 17, 44, 48
- Market Street (3rd St northbound, 4th Street southbound)
- SEPTA bus routes 9, 12, 21, 42
- Washington Avenue and 3rd Street
- SEPTA bus route 64
- Moyamensing Avenue and Snyder Avenue
- SEPTA bus route 79
- Oregon Avenue (3rd St northbound, 4th Street southbound)
- SEPTA bus routes 7, 63
- Whitman Plaza
- SEPTA bus route 47
Route 57 Origins
Current SEPTA Route 57 is a cominiation of many former streetcar lines, and even a bus line. Some lines of note include…
- Route 4 operating between Bridge Street Terminal or 2nd-Erie and 6th-Oregon or 6th-Ritner via 5th and 6th Streets.
- Route 5 operating between Bridge Street Terminal and 2nd-Ritner via 3rnd Street northbound and 2nd Street Southbound
- Check separate route 5 page for a breakdown of route 5’s history.
- Route 50 operating between Rising Sun-Knorr and 6th-Ritner via 6th Street southbound and 5th Street northbound
- Route 57 operating crosstown service via Jefferson/Master Streets to 29th Street
- Route 89 operating through Juniata Park
- Route K Arrott Terminal to Ridge-Midvale via Germantown
Route 50 via 4th/5th Streets, 1913-1993
Route 50 was one of Philadelphia’s most famous trolley lines, debuting on September 28th 1913. This line originally operated from Oxford-Loney Loop (now known as Fox Chase Loop) to 4th-Ritner via Rising Sun Avenue, 5th Street northbound and 6th Street southbound north of Oxford Street, 4th Street southbound south of Oxford Street. The Rising Sun-Knorr Loop opened on October 3rd, 1920 and service on route 50 would alternate terminating there or Fox Chase Loop. On March 3rd, 1930, route 50 would terminate at Rising Sun-Knorr loop, and route 26 would be extended to serve Fox Chase loop instead (which it would do until 1982).
Partial service on route 50 to Fox Chase would be restored on December 28th, 1931, in the form of rush hour only service, but that too would be discontinued on January 23rd 1956.
On April 5th 1953, service to the south would be extended to 6th-Oregon via Snyder, 6th/7th Streets. Service on route 50 would begin alternating between 6th-Oregon and 4th-Ritner starting April 1st, 1956. Service to Rising Sun-Knorr would be limited to rush hours only starting September 8th 1959, and all service otherwise would terminate at Rising Sun-Olney loop. Rush hour service to Rising Sun-Knorr would be discontinued October 7th 1969, but restored October 16th 1972. Buses would replace trolleys for good starting October 12th, 1980. All service on route 50 would be discontinued on May 16th 1993, and replaced with a re-routed 57.
Route 57 Trolley History 1913-1955
Route 57 started off service as the Jefferson/Master Street crosstown line which started on December 4th 1894. The route 57 trolley itself would begin on August 17th, 1913. This version of route 57 operated between 31st-Poplar and Howard and Jefferson Streets. The line would operate via Poplar Street to 27th Street eastbound (29th westbound) then to Jefferson Street (Master Street westbound) to 7th Street, then operating to Oxford Street to Howard Street, terminating at Master Street before going the other way. The line would later be cut back to terminate at 29th and Poplar on January 22nd 1916. The line would be cut back yet again on November 10th 1918 to terminate at Master Street, instead of Poplar Street. The final change with this version of route would be the re-route to have it terminate at 2nd and Erie via 2nd Street southbound and Front Street Northbound on September 7th 1930, replacing trolley route 4’s branch to 2nd-Erie. The south Philadelphia parts of the route 4 trolley would be replaced by trolley route 65 on the same date, then trolley route 20 on April 4th 1953, then discontinued. This is how route 57 would operate into its bus era, as trolleys were pulled from the line on June 18th 1955.
Bus Route O and XO History 1956-1982
Route O was one of Philadelphia Transit Company’s original bus lines, created on July 13th 1926, operating from Broad Street-Windrim Avenue to Fox Chase Road-Huntingdon Pike via Fox Chase, Oak Lane Road, and 10th Street. When the Fern Rock Bus Terminal, connecting to the Fern Rock Station on the Broad Street Line opened on March 29th 1959, several bus routes were modified to serve Fern Rock Terminal. Route O would thusly be discontinued, and in its place would be several bus routes.
- Route C (now route 4) service that originally terminated at Wagner and Somerville, would be extended north via 10th Street to Fern Rock Terminal
- Route Y (now route 70) which originally terminated at Cottman Avenue and Ryers Station, would be extended via Central Avenue, Oak Lane Road, 5th Street, and Godfrey Avenue to Fern Rock Terminal
- Route N (now route 24) which also originally terminated at Cottman Avenue at Ryers Station, was previously extended via Central Avenue, Oxford Avenue, and Huntingdon Pike, to Fox Chase Road.
A new bus route labeled route XO would also be created on January 11th 1955. This route operated from Broad-Olney Subway Station, via Tabor Road/Olney Avenue to 11th Street, via 11th connecting to Fern Rock Station to Godfrey Aveneue, then to Crescentville Road and Cheltenham Avenue via Godfrey Avenue and 2nd Street, meeting with bus route 57 at 5th-Godfrey Loop. This route originally served as a connector to the Fern Rock Station (alongside route XA) and a connector to Melrose Park Gardens. On March 29th 1959, this route would start at Fern Rock Terminal instead of Broad-Olney Subway Station. On January 31st 1982, route XO would be discontinued, and route 57 would be re-routed to cover the entire line.
Route 57 Bus 1955-1993
Beginning June 18th, 1955, route 57 would operate bus service between 2nd-Erie and 29th-Master via 2nd Street, and Master Street. On June 19th 1966 route 57 would be extended north via Front Street/Mascher Street to 2nd and Godfrey Streets, replacing route K bus service in the area, as route K would also be diverted to its current routing that day.
A branch of route 57 operating via Norris and Belgrade Streets started on September 5, 1976, replacing former route 8, which was discontinued the same date. This was not the same route 8 that operates today. That would be created at a later date.
On January 31st 1982, bus route XO would be discontinued, and route 57 be re-routed to cover the entire line. This would create a point where the route 57 crossed over itself on Godfrey Avenue. This would have route 57 operating all the way to Fern Rock Terminal via Crescentville Road and Cheltenham Avenue. Alternating trips on route 57 would terminate at 5th-Godfrey instead of Fern Rock Terminal.
On May 16, 1993, route 57 would be extended into South Philadelphia, now terminating at Whitman Plaza operating northbound via 3rd Street, and southbound via 4th (as we know today), terminating at 4th and Oregon. This replaced service on route 5 which from that point would only operate to South Street, and route 50, which would be discontinued. Service on Master/Jefferson street, as well as the Norris and Belgrate branch of route 57 would be re-directed to route 89 on the same date. North of Roosevelt Boulevard, route 57 would be re-routed to operate via Rising Sun Avenue instead of Mascher Street to Olney Avenue, then via Olney Avenue to Front Street, to cover the rest of former route 50. This also fixed the point where route 57 crossed over itself at 2nd & Godfrey and again at 5th & Godfrey. Alternating trips on route 57 that used to terminate at 5th-Godfrey would now terminate at Rising Sun-Olney loop. This also brought the occasional trips to Packer Marine Terminal. Service between Lehigh Avenue and Oxford Street would also be re-positioned to American street.
Modern Route 57
From 1993 onward, route 57 would continue to operate between Fern Rock Transit Center and Whitman Plaza with alternating trips starting at the Rising Sun-Olney Loop.
Starting August 23rd, 2026, service would be re-routed in Fern Rock to operate via Godfrey Avenue between Front Street and 11th Street. All service via Cheltenham/Crescentville would be reduced to once per hour. Otherwise, that service is now provided by a new crosstown route 72.
Other Routes using the same numbers.
Route 57, though the line itself went through many changes, the number never assigned to another line.
Route 50 is currently a bus route that operates between Parx Casino and Frankford Transit Center
Route 89 was a crosstown line via Tioga Street in Harrowgate. This route was discontinued in 2026.
New Bus Network Changes
SEPTA Route 57 was re-routed to operate crosstown on Godfrey Avenue from Front Street, instead of operating via Cheltenham Avenue. Once-hourly trips now operate via Cheltenham Avenue, and ALL trips now terminate at Fern Rock Transit Center. Alternate service along Cheltenham Avenue would be provided by new route 72.
Timetables
Route 57 is currently active. Check out SEPTA’s official website for current timetables for route 57. Below are historic timetables for SEPTA Routes 50 (before 1993) and 57. These are older, out of date timetables for archival educational purposes only. These are not meant to be used for actual trip planning.
- Route 50 Olney to South Philadelphia via Rising Sun Avenue, 4th and 5th Streets
- 1991
- 1992
- Route 57
- 1992
- June 14th 1992 (Fern Rock Terminal to Kensington and North Philadelphia)
- 1993
- June 20th 1993 (Fern Rock Terminal to South Philadelphia via American, 3rd, and 4th Streets)
- 2006
- 1992
Announcements
These are some exterior door announcements for route 57 used on buses delivered betwen 1996 and 2016.