Station Review #185: Parkesburg (Amtrak)


Parkesburg is an Amtrak stationl located at Maple and Culvert streets in the Borough of Parkesburg, PA

History


This station was first opened long ago, possibly in the 1830s/1840s, as an infill station that was originally used as a repair point. This station was eventually demolished and replaced by a newer station in 1897. This newer structure was then abandoned and replaced by another structure, which is the current station. 

Built in 1914 was the nearby Parkesburg tower, a signalling tower that caused Parkesburg to gain even more significant importance for the Pennsylvania Railroad, especially as a junction for trains going west to Lancaster or Columbia. This was removed in 1972, along with the line to Columbia. This line is now the Enola Low Grade Trail. In 1984, the station was featured in the movie Witness. 

From 1990 to 1996, this was the terminus for SEPTA trains along the Paoli-Thorndale Line, which would run from Philadelphia. This was then pulled back to downingtown, which caused Amtrak service to be increased to the station. 

Tour

Depot

Parkesburg has a depot, but you aren't allowed in it. 

Far off bike racks

Every amenity here is bare-bones, often seeming like it's only there just to say it is. 

Sign and schedule info

Platform and benches

The platform is made of bricks, and probably hasn't been replaced since the early 20th century. 

Really old signage

This signage is from the 1990s or so, that much is certain. 

Very low level platform
If you can't tell, the platform is once again underneath the tracks. 

Pay phone without a phone

Underpass you must traverse to get across the station

Terrifying staircase 

Everything about the situation regarding this overpass scares me. 

This bridge feels unsafe

This bridge is mostly wood atop metal girders, it makes weird creaking noises when you walk atop it. 

Broken staircase

The station depot from the Westbound side

Accessibility? 

Amtrak is trying to make this station accessible, at least to Amtrak levels of accessibility. This would be very awkward if SEPTA tries to be extended back to here

The westbound "platform"

There is no platform, this is just gravel. 

Westbound shelter

Working porta-potty

Train

Bus Connections

There is one bus connection at Parkesburg station:
  • ChescoBus Coatesville LINK:  This bus links together Coatesville, Hayti, Sadsburyville, and Parkesburg together via US-30 Business. Buses run whenever they want to, with there being several large gaps in service. The Coatesville Link runs six days a week. 

Points of Interest Near Parkesburg

Downtown Parkesburg

There's a weirdly large amount to do in Parkesburg, with a couple restaurants, a grocery store, a museum, three cafés, a library, and some other services. If you really wanted to, you could spend a few hours and Parkesburg and have an amount of fun.

Statistics


Name: Parkesburg
Agency: Amtrak 
Line(s): Keystone Service
Locality: Downtown
Municipality: Parkesburg 
County: Chester
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 27,273 total passengers (2025)

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: 0.5/10. This station continually does the absolute bare minimum variations of everything it does. I think if this didn't have a port-a-potty or a bus connection I would rate this a 0. 
 

Station Directory

--------PENNSYLVANIA--------
--------Dauphin County--------
Harrisburg
Middletown
--------Lancaster County--------
Elizabethtown
Mount Joy
Lancaster
--------Chester County--------
Parkesburg
Downingtown
Exton
Paoli
--------Montgomery County--------
Ardmore
--------Philadelphia County--------
30th Street
--------Bucks County--------
--------NEW JERSEY--------
--------Mercer County--------
--------Middlesex County--------
MetroPark
--------Union County--------
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Pennsylvania
--------NEW YORK--------
--------Manhattan Borough--------
New York Penn
 

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