Station #11 and ¼: North Philadelphia BSL Station (SEPTA)

Sign on the side of the Head House

North Philadelphia BSL is a station on SEPTA's Broad Street Line. The station is located at Broad, between Lehigh and Glenwood avenues. The station is part of the North Philadelphia Station Complex. Express and Ridge trains sometimes stop here, having the ability to do so.

Why isn't this station called Lehigh?

Another sign, this one in the station.

This is a question I see a lot, and its answer has to do with the station's history. The station was built in the late 1920s, and the nearby Pennsylvania Railroad station of North Philadelphia was a major station at the time. It was a boon for the station to have the name at the time, though now is a much different story. 

Obligatory Station Tour

BSL train at North Philadelphia Station

There is a lot at this station, and it's very interesting how this station is laid out. There are two entrances/exits, Lehigh Avenue and Glenwood Avenue. 

Like the example in the photo above, there are many long and thin corridors in this station. It may seem a little bit disorienting at first, but everyone who uses this station quickly gets used to it. 

The station has the usual BSL things, key card readers, turnstiles, a ticket office, you name it. What's less normal for a BSL station that is normal here is the atrium immediately afterward, where you can go northbound or southbound without having to go above ground. Some larger stations have this, and North Philadelphia is no exception.

Going down the stairs, you get to the main portion of the station: 
Trashiest point of view, I know

The main platforms are very simple, platforms like any other. Note that the inner tracks are for express and Ridge trains, while the outer tracks are for local trains. 

On the other side, there are stairs for whichever side you want to exit from. 

One issue this station has is the entrance on the Glenwood side. In attempting to make this entrance for the station need no staff, this area with the turnstiles quickly turns into a choke point, especially in times of high station traffic. If the key card reader on the left breaks, this entrance becomes useless, as there is no other way to enter otherwise, nor is there another turnstile.  

My Opinion of the Station

Could you tell I was standing on the yellow line when I took this photo? Don't be like me, everyone

This station is honestly not my favorite of the BSL stations, but it's definitely quite nice. At least, it's definitely better than the stations directly before and after it (Susquehanna - Dauphin, and Allegheny), that's for sure.

Also, it's actually quite clean (for a SEPTA station), which is honestly quite nice. 

Bus Connections:

54 bus sign

Rail:

Amtrak: Keystone Service trains run four southbound and one northbound trip on weekdays only that stop at North Philadelphia Station. The Keystone Service goes from New York to Harrisburg via Philadelphia. Access from North Philadelphia Main station 

Chestnut Hill West Line: Regional Rail Service from Center City to Chestnut Hill West, via Germantown. Access from North Philadelphia CHW station. 

Lansdale - Doylestown Line: Regional Rail Service from Center City to Lansdale and Doylestown, access from North Broad Station 

Manayunk - Norristown Line: Regional Rail Service from Center City to Norristown, access from North Broad Station 

Trenton Line: Regional Rail Service from Center City to Trenton, access from North Philadelphia Main station

Bus:

4: NRG Station to Fern Rock Transportation Center

16: City Hall to Cheltenham - Ogontz loop

54: 33rd-Dauphin to Richmond - Cambria via Lehigh Avenue

Amenity Checklist 


Accessible: ✓ 
Bathrooms: × (I don't think? if it does, I don't want to visit them) 
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes:  ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Indoor Shelters (or head house on a subway): ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Parking (if applicable): N/A
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Station In Good Condition: ✓
Ticket Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Ticket Offices: ✓
TOD: ✓ 
Train Departure/Arrival Info (signs that update/screens): ✓
Updated Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 8/10


I think it lives up to its purpose quite well, and it's very well-connected as well. My only main complaints that kept this station from a perfect 10/10 were the Glenwood exit turnstiles and a general feeling of lacklustreness the station was built in. 

Unfortunately, this is the best station with this name. The rest are leagues under this one, so much worse...

Station Directory

Fern Rock Transportation Center
Olney Transportation Center
Logan
Wyoming
Hunting Park
Erie
Allegheny
North Philadelphia 
Susquehanna - Dauphin
Cecil B. Moore
Girard
Fairmount

BRS trains continue to Chinatown and 8th and Market

Spring Garden
Race - Vine
City Hall
Walnut - Locust
Lombard - South
Ellsworth - Federal
Tasker - Morris
Snyder
Oregon
NRG

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