Station Review #13: Wilmington (AMTRAK/SEPTA)


Wilmington station is a train station located in Wilmington, Delaware. Wilmington both has Amtrak intercity trains to destinations along the northeast corridor (or really, for the other trains that use the northeast corridot to go to places like New York City that only stop there  because Wilmington is the largest city in Delaware) and SEPTA local trains going northbound to Philadelphia or southbound to Newark, Delaware. 

Wilmington Station is one of 8 stations in SEPTA's network that also have Amtrak service, a moniker shared with 30th St, Ardmore, Cornwell Heights, Downingtown, Newark, North Philadelphia, and Trenton (this will become 9 when Coatesville station service opens). 

History

The old station that the current station replaced

Trains have been going to Philadelphia and Baltimore via Wilmington for decades before the current station was built, seven to be exact. For a few of those decades, the old station shown above was used as the train station. It was located on Front and French Streets, most likely in the exact same spot as the current station. However, the station was too small and thus it was replaced by the current station. 

The old Wilmington train station was demolished in 1907, and replaced by the current station, a three-floor building designed by the famous architect Frank Furness. He designed the station to have the top floor used for rail, while the bottom floor was used for retail and tickets. This arrangement is still used today. 

Originally meant for the Pennsylvania Railroad (later Penn Central), Wilmington station gets Amtrak service in 1976. This service is the Northeast Regional trains we all know and love. Over the years, numerous other Amtrak train services are interlined through Wilmington, though not all lasted.

Also in 1976, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also renovated in 1984.

In 1989, SEPTA service was extended from Marcus Hook to Wilmington, following SEPTA's resumption of service to Delaware. Wilmington was the terminus for the line until 1997, when SEPTA added Newark Station to the line (SEPTA later also added Churchman's Crossing [which in my opinion should be called Christiana but I digress] in 2000). 

In 2009, Wilmington Station underwent restoration, which had it closed until 2010. Restoration was finished in 2011. Immediately as restoration was finished, the station was renamed the Joseph J. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station, in honor of Joe Biden, the vice president at the time (now the current president). 


Sign honoring the most recent renovation and station renaming


An actual plaque that does the exact same thing 

Station Tour because of course

Going inside the building, there is a large number of things such as seating and amenities. Here are a few pictures of the inside of the building: 

The Outside of the Station

The station from afar


The outside of the original building

The back of the station

Close-up on the front of the station

Sign

The area around that sign at a point in time closer to nighttime

First Floor



View from the Track 1 Stairwell


AMTRAK information desk


Track screens, these tell you the next trains to depart from each track


The main seating area


The brochures. Need I say more? 

The general convenience store, not much to it

SEPTA KEY office, of course, was closed. At least that's not a bad thing at this station

Trains departing

Track 2 screen

Christmas Decorations

This wall entirely celebrates the history of the station

A better view of the above

Hidden vending machines in an area I probably wasn't supposed to be in...

Second Floor


This floor is the floor where the trains themselves actually are. 

Stairs to track 1 (not quite pictured is a small lounge with a few benches)

TVs in the lounge at the stairs that show when the trains are coming

There are offices up here, named after Amtrak trains, like the Crescent and Downeaster, for example

Some benches outside at the tracks

LED (?) screens showing the time, I'm surprised I was able to actually get a good picture of that one, usually, it's very hard to.

Area under construction

SEPTA Key card readers

SEPTA Train

The general area of track 1

The general area of track 3

Acela train at night

Trains that go to this station




Update: This doesn't work on mobile. A link can be found here: Furness Transit District 


Nearby points of interest

Wilmington Skyline from the Christiana River on a foggy day

The entirety of Downtown Wilmington counts as an attraction, most likely. Especially the Riverfront neighborhood immediately nearby. It's near the Christiana river if you just want to sit down at the river and cool off immediately after getting to the station.  

Pros and Cons of Wilmington Station


Pros:

  • Much of what was already mentioned about the station. 
  • It's actually accessible!

Cons: 

  • Parking. There is a very large parking garage for the station, and while parking is important, do you really need this much? 
Entrance to a parking garage
  • The area around the station is not completely walkable, there are areas missing things such as crosswalks and traffic lights at intersections, and the drivers in Wilmington seem especially aggressive. When crossing, hope for the best. 

Amenities

Large Train Station

Accessible: ✓
Bathrooms: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Convenience Store/similar place inside: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: × (maybe in the SEPTA KEY office?)
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
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: 9/10

I think this is what North Philadelphia station used to be like when it was new. Evidently, this station ended up with a good fate, unlike North Philadelphia, in a way that makes that station even more depressing. 

Probably one of the best stations I have ever been to. 

Station Directory

--------MASSACHUSETTS--------

--------Suffolk County--------

South Station

Back Bay

--------Norfolk County--------

Route 128

--------RHODE ISLAND--------

--------Providence County--------

Providence

--------Washington County--------

Kingston

Westerly

-------CONNECTICUT--------

--------New London County--------

Mystic

New London

--------Middlesex County--------

Old Saybrook

--------New Haven County--------

New Haven Union 

--------Fairfield County--------

Bridgeport

Stamford

--------NEW YORK--------

--------Westchester County--------

New Rochelle

--------Manhattan Borough--------

New York Penn

--------New Jersey--------

--------Essex County--------

Newark Penn

Newark Liberty International Airport

--------Middlesex County--------

Metropark

New Brunswick

--------Mercer County--------

Princeton Junction

’’’’’’’’NJ Zone (SEPTA)’’’’’’’’

Trenton Transit Center

--------PENNSYLVANIA--------

--------Philadelphia County--------

’’’’’’’’CCC Zone (SEPTA)’’’’’’’’


SEPTA Wilmington - Newark Line trains continue north to Temple University


30th Street

Penn Medicine

--------Delaware County--------

’’’’’’’’Zone 2 (SEPTA)’’’’’’’’

        Darby

Curtis Park

Sharon Hill

Folcroft

Glenolden

Norwood

Prospect Park

’’’’’’’’Zone 3 (SEPTA)’’’’’’’’
 Ridley Park

Crum Lynne

Eddystone

Chester Transportation Center

Highland Avenue

Marcus Hook

--------DELAWARE--------

--------New Castle County--------

’’’’’’’’Zone 4 (SEPTA)’’’’’’’’

Claymont

Wilmington

Churchmans Crossing

Newark

--------MARYLAND--------

--------Harford County--------

Aberdeen

--------Baltimore City--------

Baltimore Penn

--------Anne Arundel County--------

BWI Airport

--------Prince George’s County--------

New Carrolton

--------DC--------

DC Union Station


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