Station Review #28: Somerton (SEPTA)

Sign for Somerton Station

Somerton Station is a train station on SEPTA's West Trenton Line. This train station is at the intersection of Bustleton Avenue and Philmont avenue in the Somerton neighborhood of Far Northeast Philadelphia. 

Tour

Station House

Somerton is a station with a building, a very old building. The platforms are low but there are mini highs at the station. 

Silverliner V train going towards West Trenton at Somerton Station

Amenities

The station has basic amenities, such as benches, platforms, a crossing light, map, schedule, and newspaper stand

Basic amenities 

The station also has a ticket office, inside the building. Speaking of the building:

Empty

This building has issues with being incredibly empty, I wonder why. There should be benches here, yet there are none. The sheer amount of empty space in this building is almost surreal. 

More empty space

Every piece of furniture in this building seems to wrap around the building's walls, rather than being in the middle of the building, making the space feel uncomfortably large. There is no reason for it to be like this, yet it is. 

shelf and flag

There is also a shelf with a giant american flag behind it. The shelf has a few books, including one of the HALO books (yes HALO has books). It's certainly something, I'd say.

View from the outbound platform

Going back outside, there is very little on the outbound platform for this station, besides benches, key card validators, and a ramp. I imagine they want you to go to this platform shortly before the train comes, especially when it rains. I hope you bring an umbrella! 

Also, behind this platform is a large amount of apartments, some TOD. 

Bus Connections
Bus stop

Somerton has two bus route connections, the 58 and 84

58 | To Frankford Transportation Center
58 | To Bustleton - County Line (Forest Hills)
58 | To Neshaminy Mall (Bensalem) 
84 | To Bustleton - County Line (Somerton) 
84 | To Frankford Transportation Center via Philadelphia Mills

Points of Interest in Somerton

Somerton, August 2018

There is not much to do in Somerton. There still are things though, like:

• A lot of very good restaurants, especially from places like Georgia and Uzbekistan 
• Game Fixx, a mom and pop game store
• Numerous bakeries
• A random lion statue
• The old school building
• There are random water towers too
• The Free Library of Philadelphia has a branch here, with 60s architecture

Amenity Checklist

Accessible: ✓
Bathrooms: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
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

Station Directory

--------Philadephia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Penn Medicine
30th Street
Suburban
Jefferson (Market East)
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Melrose Park
Elkins Park
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Jenkintown/Wyncote
Rydal
Bethayres
Philmont
--------Philadephia County--------
Somerton
--------Bucks County--------
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Langhorne
Woodbourne
Yardley
--------New Jersey--------
--------Mercer County--------
''''''''NJ Zone''''''''
West Trenton

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