Station Review #141: Penllyn (SEPTA)


Penllyn is a station on SEPTA's Lansdale-Doylestown Line. The station is located at 908 Pershing Road in Lower Gwynnedd Township, PA. Despite this, the station attracts traffic from nearby Whitpain township (particularly Blue Bell) as well. Penllyn as a village is located in both townships, and grew mainly in part due to this station. Penllyn is a zone 3 station. 

History

 
This station's history is to an extent unclear. Penllyn was built by the NPRR when they made their main line to Bethlehem in the 1860s or so. If Penllyn was built for the opening of the line, or if it was an infill station built after is unknown. What is known however is that this station was demolished by the Reading Railroad and replaced by a newer station in 1903. 
 
In the 1990s, SEPTA rented part of the depot to CDNow, a popular online CD sales service, for its headquarters. This lasted for a few years until they then moved to Jenkintown and finally Fort Washington. This company was absorbed into Amazon and finally completely retired in 2013.
 
In February 2024, the ticket office at Penllyn station closed.
 

Tour

Silverliner IV at Penllyn station
 
There is nothing out of the ordinary for this station. It's inaccessible, and that's about it. 

Depot from across the tracks

Formerly the outbound depot, now nothing

This building is closed and you cannot go in. 

Old bench from the Reading era
 
Based on the paint choices, design, and color of this bench, it has to be at least 70 years old.  

Schedules

Parking 


Crossing and entrance to tunnel

Good view of the station itself

Stairs into tunnel

Yet another tunnel under the station 

This is the only way of getting to the other side. Why are all SEPTA tunnels so dingy?

Stairs up from tunnel

A much newer bench

View inside station 

Depot from behind

On the inbound end is even more parking, and not much else

Another view of the depot

Old signage from before 2010

Bus Connections

There is one bus near Penllyn station: 

94 - Montgomery Mall to Chestnut Hill: In a lot of ways, this bus paralells much of the Lansdale-Doylestown Line. Besides Penllyn station, the 94 also connects to Pennbrook, Ambler, and Fort Washington stations, before continuing on Bethlehem Pike to Chestnut Hill East and West stations, as well as the Chestnut Hill Loop. 


Points of Interest near Penllyn


There's not much here, its mostly residential. There's a small park and condos here, as well as housing and a inaccessible pizza place but that's about it. Penllyn is not a walkable place, nor much of any enjoyable one really. 

Statistics


Name: Penllyn
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Lansdale-Doylestown
Locality: Penllyn
Municipality: Lower Gwynedd Township
County: Montgomery
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 362 riders per average weekday (2024)

Amenity Checklist


Accessible: ×
Bathrooms: ×
Bicycle parking: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ×
Existence is justifiable: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ×
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ×
Adequate Parking: ✓
Safe to use: ✓
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''''''''
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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