SEPTA introduces new bus, metro line names; debuts spring schedules
New names, same buses and metro lines. SEPTA is streamlining the way it refers to its different services in an effort to make the transit system easier for riders to navigate.
All bus lines will now be indicated by number and all metro lines will be identified by letters. The transit agency said riders should expect to see both old and new signage used throughout the transitional process.
So, which bus lines' names are changing?
- The G is becoming the 63
- The H is becoming the 71
- The J is becoming the 41
- The L is becoming the 51
- The R is becoming the 82
- The XH is becoming the 81
- The K bus is the only exception, which will remain a lettered service for the time being
And what about metro lines?
- The Market-Frankford Line is becoming the L
- The Broad Street Line is becoming the B. The Local is the B1, the Express is the B2 and the Spur is the B3
- Subway-Surface Trolleys are becoming the T. The 10 is the T1, the 34 is the T2, the 13 is the T3, the 11 is the T4, and the 36 is the T5
- The Route 15 Trolley is becoming the G
- The Media-Sharon Hill Line is becoming the D. The 101 is the D1, and the 102 is the D2
- The Norristown High Speed Line is becoming the M
SEPTA will also use red to indicate frequent routes and black for standard routes.
The transit agency also introduced new spring bus and metro schedules on Sunday and will implement more route schedules for the season on Monday.
The newly renamed bus and metro lines have been popping up on SEPTA's websites throughout 2025 and can also be found on the spring schedules.
SEPTA riders have mixed feelings about name changes
Change is rolling through SEPTA as riders prepare to say goodbye to the familiar names of routes.
"Why change something that doesn't need to be changed?" David Oney said. "It's weird!"
Monday was the first weekday riders experienced new route designations for SEPTA train and bus lines.
"Why change the bus routes and give them new letters? It's just like math class all over again," Oney said.
But SEPTA's Director of Media Relations Andrew Busch says the changes aren't supposed to complicate things – it's intended to do just the opposite.
"We're trying to make it much easier for people to understand, easier to look at schedules, make it more accessible," Busch said.
Busch said the changes are intended to make SEPTA more comparable to successful systems in other major cities with train lines less of a mouthful.
Norman Tercero said it'll be an adjustment but he described the new system as intuitive.
"The "El" has always been the "El" and the Broad? I think B just makes sense," Tercero said.
"The only thing that needs to be fixed is their fare," Oney said. "Bring it back down some."
