Station Review #96: North Wales (SEPTA)


North Wales is a station on SEPTA's Lansdale-Doylestown Line. The station is located at 5th and Walnut Street in North Wales, PA. 

History

It's unknown when the original North Wales station was built, but what is known is that the North Pennsylvania Railroad rebuilt it in 1873. At some point, this station was heavily remodeled by the Reading Railroad, including a removal of the cupola. Despite this, North Wales station remains as one of the few still-operating stations with a usable depot built by the North Pennsylvania Railroad, along with Doylestown 

In 2008, North Wale was remodeled again, with the station being made fully accessible while the building remained intact.

Tour

North Wales station is fully accessible. This means getting to the trains from the platforms is extremely simple and stress free.

There are worker shuttles operated from North Wales station, I could find absolutely no information on these. 

Shelter

The southbound platform

The Northbound platform

Inside one of the shelters

Map

The shelter design is generic. SEPTA has a lot of this type of shelter at some newer stations. 

Ramp

Staircase

Parking

North wales has a LOT of parking, 537 spaces of it. I'm not sure all of it is needed, but a lot of it does seem to get used. 

The station depot

Benches at the station depot

Floor of the inside of the depot

The depot has a spacious interior, it essentially being a large room with a bench wrapping around it. There is a booth for buying tickets in the southeast corner across from the door inside, which is also on the east side of the station building. There is also a water fountain and bathroom inside. 

Third auxiliary parking lot

End of the station, with the bus stop

In order to get from one platform to the other, one must walk to the end of the platform they're currently on, get off of the platform, and cross the tracks. This can take a considerable amount of time. 

Bus Connections

North Wales has one train connection: 

96: Montgomeryville Mall and Lansdale Transportation Center to Norristown Transportation Center 

Much unlike Gwynedd Valley to the south, this station is directly next to the 96 bus. The 96 is a fairly useful transit connection, providing otherwise non-existant cross-county service that one would have to go all the way to at least Ambler to connect to the 95 to have. 

Points of Interest near North Wales

Downtown North Wales has a lot of interesting things in it, including a lot of stores. A confection shop in particular caught my eye last time I visited the town. The town has a very walkable downtown and generally seemed like an interesting place to have a day trip in. 

Statistics


Name: North Wales
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Lansdale-Doylestown Line 
Locality: North Wales 
Municipality: North Wales 
County: Montgomery 
State: Pennsylvania 
Ridership: 1829 per average weekday (2017)

Amenity Checklist


Accessible: ✓
Bathrooms: ✓
Bicycle parking: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ×
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Station In Good Condition: ✓
TVMs: ×
Ticket Offices: ✓
TOD: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info (countdown clocks): ×
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

Station Directory

 
--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
30th Street
Suburban
Jefferson (Market East)
Temple University
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
North Broad
Wayne Junction (Weekdays Only)
Fern Rock Transportation Center (Weekdays Only)
--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Melrose Park (Weekends Only)
Elkins Park (Weekends Only)
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Jenkintown - Wyncote
Glenside
North Hills
Oreland
Fort Washington
Ambler
Penllyn
Gwynedd Valley
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
North Wales
Pennbrook
Lansdale
9th Street
Fortuna
Colmar
Link Belt
--------Bucks County--------
Chalfont
New Britain
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown

 

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