Station Review #101: Darby (SEPTA)


Darby is a station on SEPTA's Wilmington-Newark Line. The station is located in Colwyn, PA.

History


This station was originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1872 as part of the "Darby Improvement Line". This was the second station built for the town, the first being built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 


The station was eventually demolished, and replaced by another station by the PRR. This station's depot was on the opposite side. By the time this depot was eventually demolished as well (most likely in the 1990s), it had been in such bad condition and vandalized so often that it was better off not being saved. 

The depot was replaced by what is essentially a bus shelter, and nothing else has changed since then. 


Tour

The main shelter building

Darby is a sad station. The entire station is two shelters, asphalt platforms, and absolutely nothing else. 

The northbound platform

There's some apartments immediately next to it, the TOD is appreciated here.

Bench

View from inside the shelter

What an awful path.

Inaccessible path

This path is very steep and cannot be used by anyone with a wheelchair. 

Underpass

Driveway of some form? 

The southbound platform

What an amazing view...

The southbound shelter. 

Extremely low platforms, a certified PRR classic! 

Grass and some paths to an overpass

Overpass

The northbound overpass stairs

Can you see the station? I barely can! 

Transit Connections


None! Absolutely none whatsoever! 

Points of Interest in Colwyn

The closet Colwyn has to a downtown. 

Colwyn is a small isolated town with very little in it. This train station is essentially the only transit in the town. The vast majority of the town is residential. A decade ago or so Colwyn was struggling a lot, nearly going bankrupt. Fortunately, Colwyn has actually managed to get everything together. 

Darby, the town the station is named after does have more to do in it, but you'd be far better off using Darby Transportation Center on the T1 and T3 to get to much of Darby. 

Besides that, there is little to nothing here. There are a few apartment complexes right next to the station, but that's about it. 

Statistics


Name: Darby
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Wilmington/Newark Line 
Locality: Darby/Colwyn
Municipality: Borough of Darby/Borough of Colwyn
County: Delaware 
State: Pennsylvania 
Ridership: 205 riders per average weekday (2017)

Amenity Checklist


Accessibility: ×
Bicycle parking: ×
Clean: ×
Connections to other transit routes: ×
Easy passage to either side: ×
Fare Payment Kiosks: ✓
Good Wayfinding: ×
Lighting: ✓
Maps: ✓
Near places people are: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Seating: ✓
Station in Good Condition: ×
Train Departure/Arrival Info: ×
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 2/10

Station Directory

--------PENNSYLVANIA--------
--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Jefferson
Suburban
30th Street
Penn Medicine
--------Delaware County--------
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Darby
Curtis Park
Sharon Hill
Folcroft
Glenolden
Norwood
Prospect Park-Moore
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Ridley Park
Crum Lynne 
Eddystone
Chester Transportation Center
Marcus Hook
--------DELAWARE--------
--------New Castle County--------
Claymont Transportation Center
Churchmans Crossing
Newark  
  
 

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