Station #108: St. Davids (SEPTA)


St. Davids is a station located at Chamounix Road in St. Davids, PA. St. Davids is a unincorporated place located entirely within Radnor Township, immediately next to Wayne. St Davids station is the second least used station on the Paoli-Thorndale line, behind Daylesford, as of 2017.

History

Very first station at St. Davids

Originally, St. Davids was called East Wayne. The station was most likely built in the 1870s and renamed in the mid 1880's. It was renamed from East Wayne to St. David's at first to try to get people to use the station to get to the nearby St. David's Church (which is closer to Wayne station, ironically enough.) as a development scheme. It worked to some extent, and caused a new station building to be built. 

This new station was built sometime before 1891, and lasted until 1966, when it was demolished due to disrepair. This building was then replaced by a newer building, though the canopies from the old building were left behind. Sometime around the 1970s or 1980s, the new depot building became a realtors office. 

In more recent years, a historical society has formed around attempting to restore what is left of the old station, restoring decades of disrepair. 

Tour

Saint Davids is a station that's in a state somewhere between decay and disrepair. There is so much wrong with this station. You can see the brickwork under the stairs.  

Southbound platform

This station is not just not accessible, but outright hostile. The platforms are literally just asphalt. 

Brickwork

Those bricks poking through the poorly placed asphalt cover are most likely 130 years old. 

Old station depot

That depot in the background is now a Realtors office. In that time it most likely was completely remodeled. It looks like a house from the 1960s, which is when it was built. 

St. Davids PRR sign

I believe this sign was restored/remade by the St. Davids Historical society. 

Bike rack

Behind the pillar in disrepair is a bike rack. 

Overflowing trashbin

I unfortunately had the displeasure of having to use this trashbin to throw out the container for a milkshake from the nearby Smashburger. I hope it didn't fall out.

???

I imagine this is where the original station building was. 

Train

The same train from another angle

The outbound canopy

Northbound platform

At the northbound platform, there's a semi-paved path to houses near Hilare road. 

Parking

The protected path between each side of the station

This may not be obvious, but if you know where to look the crash barrier has clearly been moved inwards by crashes so often that it needs to be replaced. There is not much space to walk, and often if multiple people are there they need to walk single file due to the lack of space between the crash barrier and the tunnel wall. 

Bus Connections 

If you look closely, you can see the old sign behind it 

St. Davids station has one bus connection: route 106. The 106 goes between Paoli Hospital and 69th Street Transportation Center. The bus mainly stays on Lancaster Pike (US-30) between Paoli and Ardmore, minus a deviation to serve both Radnor stations. Afterwards, the 106 then goes onto Haverford Road to get to 69th Street Transportation Center. 

The Paoli-Thorndale Line however also goes between Ardmore and Paoli, and Lancaster Pike service is moreso useful for local service. I doubt many people transfer between the 106 bus and train here. 


Points of Interest Near St. Davids station

Apartments

The only saving grace of St. Davids station is transit oriented development. There are multiple apartment complexes immediately next to the station. St. Davids is a very good example of transit oriented development next to a train station. Also nearby is a few plazas, including the only Micro Center in the area, and a Smashburger. St. Davids has a downtown of its own, though it's very small and mostly centered around the intersection of Lancaster Pike and Aberdeen Avenue. If you don't know where the border is, you'd think it's part of Wayne. Downtown St. Davids is otherwise very suburban and has nothing of note.

Statistics


Name: St. Davids
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Paoli-Thorndale
Locality: St. Davids
Municipality: Radnor Township
County: Delaware
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 520 riders 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: 2.5/10. 

Station Directory

--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Jefferson (Market East)
Suburban
30th Street
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
--------Montgomery County--------
Merion
Narberth
Wynnewood
Ardmore
Haverford
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Bryn Mawr
--------Delaware County--------
Villanova
Radnor
St. Davids
Wayne
--------Chester County--------
Stratford
Devon
Berwyn
Daylesford
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Paoli
Malvern
Exton
Whitford
Downingtown



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