L (SEPTA Metro)

A train at 63rd Street station in 2007
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerCity of Philadelphia (Frankford to 15th St)
SEPTA (15th St to 69th St)
LocaleUpper Darby, Millbourne and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Termini
Stations28
Websitesepta.org/schedules/L1
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemSEPTA Metro
Services
  •  All Stops
Operator(s)1907–39: Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
1940–68: Philadelphia Transportation Company
1968–present: SEPTA
Daily ridership107,651 (FY 2023)
History
OpenedMarch 4, 1907 (1907-03-04)
Technical
Line length12.9 miles (20.76 km)
Number of tracks2
CharacterElevated and underground
Track gauge5 ft 2+14 in (1,581 mm) Pennsylvania trolley gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 700 V DC (previously 600 V DC)
Operating speed19 mph (31 km/h) (avg.)
55 mph (89 km/h) (top)
Route map
Proposal
Bustleton
Frankford Yard
Frankford Transit Center
Arrott Transit Center
Church
Erie–Torresdale
Tioga
Kensington–Allegheny
Somerset
Conrail Richmond
Industrial Track
Huntingdon
York–Dauphin
Berks
Front–Girard
Spring Garden
PATCO
2nd Street
5th Street/Independence Hall
8th–Market PATCO
PATCO
11th Street
13th Street
15th Street/City Hall
Drexel
34th Street
40th Street
diverted trolleys only
|
46th Street
52nd Street
56th Street
60th Street
63rd Street
Millbourne
69th Street Transit Center
69th Street Yard
Underground concourse/transfer station
Free transfer between services
Out-of-system transfer between services
Surface buses connect
at all stations except Millbourne

The L, formerly known as the Market–Frankford Line, is a rapid transit line in the SEPTA Metro network in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The L runs from the 69th Street Transit Center in Upper Darby, just outside of West Philadelphia, through Center City Philadelphia to the Frankford Transit Center in Near Northeast Philadelphia. Starting in 2024, the line was rebranded as the "L" as part of the implementation of SEPTA Metro, wherein line names are simplified to a single letter.

The L is the busiest route in the SEPTA system; it had more than 170,000 boardings on an average weekday in 2019. The line has elevated and underground portions.