North Philadelphia station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Philadelphia
North Philadelphia station building in 2013
Location	2900 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	39°59′51″N 75°9′16″W / 39.99750°N 75.15444°W / 39.99750; -75.15444
Owned by	Amtrak
Line(s)	Northeast Corridor Chestnut Hill West Line
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform (Northeast Corridor) 2 side platforms (Chestnut Hill West Line)
Tracks	5 (Northeast Corridor) 2 (Chestnut Hill West Line)
Connections	At North Philadelphia:   Broad Street Line SEPTA City Bus: 4, 16, 54
Construction
Parking	333 spaces
Disabled access	Yes
Architect	Theophilus Parsons Chandler, Jr. Roydhouse Arey & Co.
Architectural style	Renaissance
Other information
Station code	PHN (Amtrak)
Fare zone	C (SEPTA)
History
Opened	1870s (original station)
Rebuilt	May 1896 – April 1901 (current station) 1912–1915 1955, 1977 1991
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	184 daily boardings (SEPTA)
Passengers (FY 2018)	2,006  93.4% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Philadelphia toward Harrisburg Keystone Service Limited service Cornwells Heights toward New York Philadelphia toward Norfolk, Newport News or Roanoke Northeast Regional Limited service Cornwells Heights toward Boston South or Springfield Preceding station SEPTA Following station Queen Lane toward Chestnut Hill West Chestnut Hill West Line 30th Street Station toward Temple University Bridesburg toward Trenton Trenton Line
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Paoli toward Kansas City National Limited Trenton toward New York Philadelphia toward Richmond Staples Mill Road, Harrisburg or Springfield Atlantic City Express Cherry Hill toward Atlantic City Philadelphia toward Washington, D.C. Montrealer Trenton toward Montreal Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station Philadelphia toward Chicago Main Line Bridesburg toward New York or Exchange Place Frankford toward New York or Exchange Place Philadelphia toward Suburban Station Trenton Line Frankford Junction toward Trenton North Penn Junction toward Trenton Westmoreland toward Chestnut Hill Chestnut Hill Line Philadelphia toward Suburban Station
Germantown Junction Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	92000940
Added to NRHP	July 8, 1999

The North Philadelphia station is a busy train station in the North Philadelphia area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It serves both long-distance trains (called intercity rail) and local commuter trains (called regional rail). The station is located on North Broad Street.

Most trains stopping here are from Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Regional Rail lines, specifically the Trenton Line and Chestnut Hill West Line. A few Amtrak trains also stop here on weekdays. The station first opened in the 1870s. It was known by different names, like New York Junction and Germantown Junction. A new, bigger station was built between 1896 and 1901. It was later renamed North Philadelphia. The station has been updated many times. In 1999, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical places.

What the Station Looks Like and How it Works

Platforms for the Chestnut Hill West Line

The North Philadelphia station has different platforms for different trains.

• Two high platforms serve the Northeast Corridor tracks. These are used by most SEPTA Trenton Line trains and some Amtrak trains.
• Two lower platforms are a short distance away. These serve the Chestnut Hill West Line. Since 1993, trains on this line only stop here if a passenger asks them to.

Even though not many people start their journey here, many riders from the Chestnut Hill West Line use this station to switch to other SEPTA or Amtrak trains. This helps them get to jobs in New Jersey and New York.

The station is also close to other public transport options.

• The North Broad station is nearby. It's on SEPTA's Main Line.
• The North Philadelphia subway station is also close. It's on SEPTA's Broad Street Line.

History and Design of the Station

Early Days: Germantown Junction

Germantown Junction station before 1896

The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) built a railway line called the Connecting Railway in 1867. This line linked its main route to another railroad. By the early 1870s, a station named New York Junction was built where these lines crossed. A signal tower from that time is still there today.

In the early 1880s, the PRR station became known as Germantown Junction. It was a two-story building with a Queen Anne style design. Its large roof sections offered shelter to passengers.

Building a New Station

By the mid-1890s, the station was very crowded. More people were moving to North Philadelphia and the nearby suburbs. A new bridge, the Delair Bridge, opened in 1896. This allowed trains to go directly to beach resorts in New Jersey. This meant even more people used the train line.

The railroad decided to build a new station. It was designed by Theophilus Parsons Chandler, Jr.. The new station was built on a former freight yard. This spot had more space and was better connected to new electric streetcar lines.

Work on the foundation began in May 1896. However, it stopped when the railroad president became ill and then passed away. Work started again in 1900 under a new president, Alexander Cassatt. He wanted to improve the main train lines and build large, grand stations. The new station was finished in April 1901.

Station Design and Style

The new Germantown Junction station was built in a style called Châteauesque. This was a new look for train stations along the Northeast Corridor. It helped start the Beaux Arts style for many large train stations built in the early 1900s.

The main entrance of the station faced Glenwood Avenue. It had a two-story covered walkway with seven arched openings. Inside, the first floor had a large waiting room. It had special glass blocks in the ceiling to let in natural light. There were also restrooms, a kitchen, and a cafe.

The basement held a smaller waiting room and baggage areas. Passengers could reach the train platforms through a tunnel from the main waiting room. There was also a covered ramp that led to a small trolley station.

Renamed North Philadelphia

North Philadelphia station in 1915 after changes

After it was built, this station was the main stop in Philadelphia for many long-distance trains. This helped trains avoid having to turn around at other stations. It also served local trains. But within ten years, the station was crowded again.

In 1912, the PRR started a huge renovation project. The station's design was updated to be more modern.

• The ground level was lowered to make it easier for taxis and cars to access the station.
• A large canopy was added to shelter people arriving and leaving.
• The lower waiting room was made bigger, and a new ticket office was built.
• The floors were covered with fancy marble.

The old platforms were replaced with new, high platforms. These were long enough for twelve-car trains. The train line was also made wider, with eight tracks through the station. Some tracks were for fast, non-stop trains, and others for local freight trains. Each platform had a waiting room with skylights. A separate tunnel was built for baggage. When these big changes were finished in 1915, the station was renamed North Philadelphia.

Changes and Decline

A PRR train arrives at the station in 1943

North Philadelphia continued to grow in the early 1900s. It became a popular place to live. Sports stadiums and new cultural buildings were built nearby. In 1928, the Broad Street Subway opened with a station at North Philadelphia. This made it easier to get to the city center.

Even though another big station, 30th Street Station, opened in 1933, North Philadelphia station remained important for many years. It was used by many daily commuters and long-distance trains.

The lower level ticket counter in 1978

After World War II, the area around North Philadelphia station faced challenges. The railroad also started to offer fewer train services because more people were driving cars. This made the station less important. In 1955, escalators were added. The parking lots were also changed in 1968.

In 1977, after a fire, Amtrak fixed up the station. The roof was repaired, new restrooms were added, and parts of the waiting room were fixed. However, some windows and openings were covered up with cinderblocks.

New Station and Modern Use

The 1991-built station building in 2014

In 1991, Amtrak built a smaller, new station building on the north side of the tracks. This new building was made of concrete and glass. The old access from the south side was blocked.

In 1999, the original station building was renovated for $7 million. It was turned into commercial space for businesses. The front parking lot was made bigger. The old station building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1999.

In 2001, the Amtrak ticket office at the station closed. Elevators also closed due to vandalism. SEPTA thought about closing the station because it seemed to have few riders. However, a group of train passengers showed that many people used the station to switch trains. This convinced SEPTA to keep the station open.

In 2010, the North Philadelphia subway station was renovated. This included reopening old entrances, which made it easier to connect to the main train station.

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view of North Philadelphia station and surrounding areas in 1929

• Amtrak – Stations – North Philadelphia, PA
• Historic American Buildings Survey listings: