Station Review #11 and ¾: North Broad (SEPTA)


North Broad is a train station on SEPTA's main line. Particularly, it serves the Manayunk - Norristown, and Lansdale - Doylestown lines. 

North Broad possibly is also one of the saddest stations I have ever seen. 

History


Corner of the old station house

The station used to be a much grander station on the Reading Railroad. Originally called Huntingdon st station, this station was rebuilt immediately before the Great Depression when passenger amounts heavily dwindled. Then, other things like World War Two and the rise of cars, the subway, and suburbia further dwindled the use of this station. Sometime around the 1960s to 1970s, the original station building was shut down and sold, and the two shelters you see today were built. 

Station Tour

Station gate

The station starts at a gate on Broad Street. Enter the gate, and you immediately are greeted with a long ramp and the SEPTA map. 

The map

Part of the walkway

The walkway is very thin, you are stuck in a single file line if there is an emergency, or even if multiple people want to leave at once. 

Once you get through the very long ramp, you realize that your trip was all for naught. 

 Everything

That's the entire station. Everything. Wood and asphalt. Coil fences everywhere make this station feel even more uncomfortable to be at than it normally would be. 

Outbound Shelter
 
The outbound shelter was built in the 1960s - 1970s, and it shows. The entire thing is beige, and its age is easily seen as well. Next to it on either side, there are also two green benches

Former entrance to the station 

Getting to the other side is an ordeal as well. You have to go back up that ramp, and then go south on Broad and pass the old station building. Then, immediately to your left will be an alleyway. This alleyway is also the entrance to the station, and it has a similar atmosphere to the HVAC part store parking lot entrance to Eddington station. 

At least it's paved. 

Going to the other side, the view is much better. You can see how little there is here in a much nicer way!

Again, everything

This side has a shelter as well. Not much to that though. 

Forgive the terrible quality of this photo, but I refuse to go back to this station to retake the photo. 

I don't think I need to explain what is wrong with this shelter. That photo speaks for itself. 

Really completes the station

There is a sheet of plywood placed behind the bench to fill in another hole where a plexiglass window is missing. 

Simply put, the shelters both need to be replaced and probably upgraded. 

At least this station has mini-highs. Both sides have a mini-high, and each mini-high is made of wood. 

The outbound mini high

The outbound mini-high is in an awkward but reachable spot, while the inbound mini-high is much easier to reach. 

Gallery
This station has gaming chair

The inbound has a nice bench on the mini-high. I wish they did this more

Sign

View of Inbound platform from inbound mini-high

Another sign with coil fencing behind, definitely not hostile feeling at all. 

Schedules for each line

Sign directing you to the objectively better North Philadelphia BSL station

Another view of the outbound side. Honestly one of my favorite photos of the station. 

Gate to the inbound side. 

Bench

Transit Connections


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 

Broad Street Line: Fern Rock Transportation Center to NRG Station/Boad and Pattison, Access from North Philadelphia BSL station 

Chestnut Hill West Line: Regional Rail Service from Center City to Chestnut Hill, access from North Philadelphia CHW station 

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

Bus: 


4: Broad and Pattison to Fern Rock Transportation Center via Broad and 9th. (get on at Broad and Lehigh Avenue)

16: Cheltenham - Ogontz Loop to City Hall (get on at Broad Street and Indiana Avenue) 

54: 33rd-Dauphin loop to Richmond - Cambria via Lehigh (get on at Broad and Lehigh Avenue) 

Station Checklist


Some vestige of accessibility: ×
Clean: ×
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage to either side: ×
Fare Payment Kiosks: ✓
Lighting: ✓
Maps: ✓ 
Parking: ✓ 
Shelters: ✓
Seating: ✓
Station in Good Condition: ×
Train Departure/Arrival Info: × 
Updated Signage: ×


Final verdict: 0.5/10



--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Glenside

Trains continue from West Trenton 

Jenkintown - Wyncote
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Elkins Park
Melrose Park
--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
Fern Rock Transportation Center

Trains continue from Fox Chase or Chestnut Hill East

Wayne Junction

Trains continue from Norristown

North Broad
''''''''CCCC Zone''''''''
Temple University
Jefferson
Suburban
30th Street

Trains continue to Cynwyd or Thorndale

Penn Medicine 

Trains continue to Media/Wawa, Wilmington/Newark, or Philadelphia International Airport 

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