Station Review #47: Highland Avenue (SEPTA)


Highland Avenue is a station on SEPTA's Wilmington - Newark Line, located on Highland Avenue in Chester, PA, very close to Trainer, PA. 

History

Aerial view of Highland Avenue station from 1940

Very little is known about the history of Highland Avenue station. What is known is that it existed by the late 1800s as an infill station. Highland Avenue station had two platforms, both with shelters, and a station house that you could get tickets from. 

By the 1950s, almost everything was removed due to budget cuts. All that remained was a shelter on one of the platforms, which was subsequently modernized in the 1990s or so. The station has not changed at all since.

Tour


Uhhhh...

Highland Avenue is a station that only the first two cars can reach, as the platforms are too short for more than the first two cars. This is very annoying for anyone who wants to get off at the station, as it is very hard to do so due to this. 

Compared to everything below, this is the most minor complaint possible. 

It only gets worse from here

So, you know how in Chicago, some of the older L stations that haven't been modernized have wooden "boardwalk" platforms? Highland Avenue is the same, but worse somehow. The platforms are all made of those same wooden planks that they were probably made of in the 1950s. If that is actually the case, then that would probably explain why it constantly feels like you're about to fall through the floor, because the wood has been weathered that much. You have to watch every step you take, because any of them could be your last, and you can very easily feel it in the floor.

The floor isn't the only thing falling apart at Highland Avenue. The fences too, are falling apart: 

Had I wanted to, I could very easily shake that back and forth with no issues whatsoever. In a strong storm, that fence is going to be ripped off of the station, and I'm surprised it hasn't yet. All of these issues with bad upkeep make Germantown look like it's in pristine condition compared to Highland Avenue. 

Northbound platform

The northbound platform isn't much better, either. There's a shelter that clearly has seen better days, and not much else compared to the southbound platform.

The stairs are also pretty sketchy. They're old rusted metal ones, so make sure you watch your step here too.

Directly south of the train station is now a very small parking lot. The parking lot also has the system map and schedule put together as well. 

Bus Connections

113 bus stop

Highland Avenue has two bus connections:

- 113 - 69th Street Transportation Center to Northtowne Plaza (Claymont)
- 119 - Cheyney University to Chester Transportation Center

Good luck finding a nearby bus stop for a southbound 113: there are none with signs near the station, and I had to start frantically waving my arms so the bus driver would see me. 

Statistics


Name: Highland Avenue
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Wilmington - Newark 
Locality: West End
City/Township: Chester
County: Delaware 
Ridership: 204 per average weekday 

Amenity Checklist


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

Final Verdict: 0.2/10

Highland Avenue at this point is more of a structural hazard than a train station. 

Station Directory


’’’’’’’’CCC Zone’’’’’’’’
       Jefferson
       Suburban
30th Street
        Penn Medicine
--------Delaware County--------
’’’’’’’’Zone 2’’’’’’’’
        Darby
        Curtis Park
        Sharon Hill
        Folcroft
        Glenolden
        Norwood
        Prospect Park
’’’’’’’’Zone 3’’’’’’’’
        Ridley Park
        Crum Lynne
        Eddystone
        Chester Transportation Center
        Highland Avenue
        Marcus Hook
--------DELAWARE--------
--------New Castle County--------
’’’’’’’’Zone 4’’’’’’’’
        Claymont
        Churchmans Crossing
Newark


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