SEPTA Metro

SEPTA Metro is an urban rail transit network in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and its suburbs, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The network includes two rapid transit lines, a light rapid transit line, a surface-running trolley line, and a subway–surface trolley line, totaling 78 mi of rail service.

Although some of Philadelphia's transit lines date back to the 19th century and the SEPTA agency began operations in 1965, the transit network itself had no formal name until 2024, when it was named "SEPTA Metro" as part of an effort to make the system easier to navigate. The effort also replaces each line's name with a single letter, plus a number to denote various service patterns. After a two-year transition that will replace signage throughout the system, the Broad Street Line, Media–Sharon Hill Line, Route 15, Market–Frankford Line, Norristown High Speed Line, and subway–surface trolleys will be referred to as the B, D, G, L, M, and T, respectively.

History
In September 2021, SEPTA officials proposed to rebrand the rail transit services to make the system easier to navigate. The lines included the Market–Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, subway–surface trolley lines, Norristown High-Speed Line, Route 15 trolley, and Routes 101 and 102 trolleys).

Under this proposal, new maps, station signage, and line designations would be created. Under the proposed nomenclature, trunk lines would receive a letter and a color, with services having a numeric suffix and service name, to make wayfinding easier. Services on the current Market–Frankford Line, for instance, would be called the "L Lines" and colored blue, with local service becoming the "L1 Market–Frankford Local".

Services along the current Broad Street Line would become the "B Lines" and colored orange, with local service becoming the "B1 Broad Street Local". The express service would become the "B2 Broad Street Express", the special service would become the "B2 Express Sports Special", and spur service would become the "B3 Broad–Ridge Express".

Services along the current subway–surface, Norristown High-Speed Line, Route 15 trolley, and Routes 101 and 102 suburban trolley trunk would become the "T Lines", "M Lines", "G Lines", and "D Lines" respectively. SEPTA budgeted $40 million to June 2023 for the rebranding.

In March 2022, SEPTA revised the SEPTA Metro proposal based on community feedback collected during September and October 2021. Under the amended proposal, each lettered service will be known as "Line" rather than "Lines". Special service along the Broad Street Line would become part of the "B2 Broad Street Express", with service being differentiated by their end terminals. Real-time information will be presented at stations on screens. Stations with shared names would be renamed to avoid confusion. SEPTA upgraded its website in late 2023, before the planned rollout of SEPTA Metro in 2024.

The first updated signs were installed at Drexel Station at 30th Street in February 2024.