Station Review #180: Bristol (SEPTA)


Bristol is a station along Beaver Street in Bristol, PA. This station has service from the Trenton Line, and is a zone 4 station. 

History

Old station

The first Bristol station was built in 1834 as part of the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad, and was left until 1911, long after this railroad was absorbed into the Pennsylvania Railroad. This was demolished due to the tracks in the area being realigned and elevated. The second station, shown above, was built around then. Sometime around the late 1970s, the station was rebuilt and the old depot was sold off. Currently the depot is a daycare, though it once was a bagel shop. 
 
Around 2022, SEPTA fenced off parts of the station due to the station beginning to crumble. The rebuilding of Bristol station is planned but currently in political limbo due to the Pennsylvania public transit funding crisis. 

Tour

Staircase
This station has a lot of stairs, and no elevators or ramps. 

Platform
 
And that's only the start of it. The station is also completely inaccessible.

Parking

Bicycle parking

Back of inbound end
 
Unfortunately, things can in fact get even worse. From this angle, the station looks to be in incredibly poor condition. 

Blocked off entrance 
 
Yes, this is the only schedule in the entire station, and it's behind the wooden panel blocking off the old stairs. Those old stairs are currently crumbling. 

Stairs again

The replacement stairs are made of wood and can't take all that much weight. 

Inbound shelter

The inbound shelter has been fenced off, probably because the shelter itself is completely falling apart. 

Fencing

Broken platform
 
Did you think I was exaggerating about the station crumbling? 

Train

Bus connections 


There are two bus routes that go to here 

129 - Frankford-Knights to Oxford Valley Mall: This goes from the City Line Loop (also known as Frankford-Knights Loop) to Oxford Valley Mall via Bensalem, Bristol, and Levittown. This route runs about hourly. When you look at it on a map, this route is a very funny squiggly line 

Bristol Rushbus: This is essentially a microtransit-esque bus that serves the entire city of Bristol, along with multiple other nearby locations of employment, along with a trade school. This is timed with the trains and only runs during rush-hour. 

Points of Interest Near Bristol Station

Bristol waterfront
There's a lot of stores and restaurants in Downtown Bristol proper. Closer-by, there's the Grunby clock tower and the Delaware Canal State Park. There's also a lot of dense housing. This is probably the only thing this station has going for it. 

Statistics


Name: Bristol
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Trenton
Locality: Bristol Borough 
Municipality: Bristol Borough 
County: Bucks
State: Pennsylvania 
Ridership: 539 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: 0/10
 

Station Directory 

 
--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Jefferson (Market East)
Suburban
30th Street
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
--------Bucks County--------
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Bristol
--------New Jersey--------
--------Mercer County--------
''''''''NJ Zone''''''''
 

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