Ribbon cutting. Left to right: Nancy Sauers, Adam Spector (BCGP Member), Iris Spector (BCGP Member), Brig Masone (BCGP Member), Andrew Masone (BCGP Member), Ann Vaneerden (BCGP Member), Bob Lukot (BCGP Member), and Tom Hibbs

The Newtown Rail Trail will be an extension of the Pennypack Creek Trail and will use the Right of Way of SEPTA’s former Newtown Line. Planning is currently broken into two segments.

The southern section in Southampton Township is currently in the design phase an expected to be complete in 2020.

The northern section consists of Northampton, Middletown, Newtown Townships and Newtown Borough. Northampton approved the concept on 02-26-2020 after many years of stalling the project. The other townships lent their support in 2016. Construction is estimated to start in 2025.

When complete there will be 25-mile continuous off-road trail from Newtown to the Delaware river in Holmesburg.

Ribbon Cutting

On Wednesday, April 27, the official Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the Newtown Rail Trail – Phase 1 was held at the former Southampton Trail Station in Bucks County. County Commissioners representing Bucks and Montgomery counties joined PennDOT, members of the Circuit Trails Coalition and advocates for the trails among many others to celebrate the opening of the long-awaited connection between the two counties.

Highlighted in red on the map above shows the recently completed 2.54 mile County Line Rd to Bristol Rd segment of the Newtown Rail Trail.

The segment is a 12-foot-wide multi-use trail that connects Tamanend Park in Upper Southampton Township to the popular Pennypack Trail in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Trail users can now enjoy 18.25 continuous miles from Bristol Rd in Bucks County to the Delaware River in Philadelphia!

Related: Celebrating Connections Between Counties: The Newtown Rail Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony