Fern Rock Transportation Center

This so-​called «Transportation Center» is an epic fail and gives me the screaming heebie-​jeebies whenever I have the misfortune of embarking or disembarking there. It is charmless, amenity-​less, rickety and seemingly user-​unfriendly by design. It is SEPTA’s equivalent of the one-​finger salute. The only positive is the opportunity to view the vintage trains parked in the yard.
We know that SEPTA is capable of building a better mousetrap because we have seen the Frankford Transportation Center. Several suggestions: (1) Enclose the walkways and upper platform to protect riders from the elements and wind; (2) Add restrooms for the ridership (we presume employees are already covered); (3) Install more enclosed shelters (with roofs) on the platforms, as well as heaters; (4) To the ramp from the Regional Rail platform install signage that advises which subway (Track 1 or Track 3) is the next to leave and when (so the ridership will know whether a politico’s saunter or a Mummer’s strut is required). This technology has been around forever and is omnipresent in the NYC subways; go check it out; (5) A coffee shop (preferably La Colombe) and a newsstand would be welcome additions; (6) Replace all metal benches with plastic or wood ones because metal seats transmit cold in a most unpleasant way; (7) Regularly power-​wash, disinfect and repaint the place; it is über-​grungy and disgusting; (8) Patch the leaky roofs on the platforms; and (9) It sure would be nice if the regional rail trains could be held for a minute or two when SEPTA decides to hold a BSL subway in the tunnel between Olney and Fern Rock or in the rail-​yard (or the BSL is otherwise running on a random schedule). There is no more hollow a sensation that witnessing your Regional Rail train pull away while you are stuck on a BSL subway car idling in the rail-​yard. If airlines can hold connecting flights, why can’t SEPTA hold connecting trains?

Parking in the city is a hassle like no other and you stand to save yourself a lot of grief if you park here and take the Broad Street Line to where you need to go. It’s especially good to use for a sporting event and you stand to save yourself parking fees and pre/​post game traffic.

Yeah, the proverbial «end of the line» at least, that is, for the Broad St. subway line. Reasonably clean, lots of trains. The automatic doors on the subway cars are exceptionally cool, and the Star Trek like talking computer voice is not to be missed.

Not a bad place to start your trip if you’re going somewhere in Center City or down to the Sports Complex especially on weekends. Now I say on weekends because during the week the parking here can be a real hassle with the small lot and super tight spaces along with the lovely charge of $ 2 to park.
Where as on the weekends this station is hardly utilized and the parking is nice and free.
As already mentioned by other reviewers, this is also a convenient place to catch a Regional Rail train or a bus if so inclined.

I have been using the Fern Rock subway station since its inception in the 50’s. Usually I park in the Nedro lot– the spaces are bigger and the price is $ 1.00. It fills up by 7:20 AM weekdays, but there are usually spots in the afternoon. There is an elevator from this lot up to the subway toll booth and down to the regional train platform. There is no way to tell if the next subway train is an express or a local until one gets to the train platform. A sign on the ramp to the trains, similar to the ones that are on the subway platform, would alleviate this problem. Also, in non-​peak hours, it would be helpful if SEPTA could announce that the train after the one scheduled to leave next is going to be an express or a local. They generally run two locals and then an express in off-​peak hours. A commuter may pass up a local, figuring that the next train would be an express, and then it turns out that it is another local and the commuter arrives at his destination 20 minutes later than he would have had he taken the first train. Also, there is a blind spot on the ramp from the subway to the train/​parking lot where there is no security, it is not visible for employes on the platform if they were actually out of their booth on the other end of the platform, nor is it visible from the toll booth above. I saw a young girl get mugged there. The station is generally very clean and, unlike many of the other stations, does not smell of urine. I am glad I don’t live near the station because they often have music playing over the loud speakers which has got to be pretty annoying to anyone trying to sleep.

good for going to games or concerts or other events downtown or the sports complex, this is the park & ride for the broad street subway.
parking during the week fills up in the morning sometimes and by 8:30 you might be screwed out of a spot
parking spots are somewhat small in the subway lot, its a tight fit
no 8^th & Market train during the week (it only goes to olney terminal)
$ 2 to park, if you commute daily its usually a better idea to take a bus to olney or fernrock, and transfer to the subway

Avoid at all costs. I give it one star because Unilocal doesn’t allow zero stars.

Disclaimer: I’m a Philly native and this is the only SEPTA station that I had never been to in 23 years. Ironically, I finally got to step foot on the platforms of fair Fern Rock during, and because of, a SEPTA strike.
That said, Fern Rock, when fully operational, is quite the place to be. Unlike most other transportation centers, this is where suburban and urban meet via the cris-​crossing of the infamous Broad Street sub and the the much tamer Regional Rail trains.
Prime-​time to go? After dark with the stars out… stand at the top of the steps and look out upon the splendor of the city as the sub cars are lined up to sleep and the distant sound of a train coming rustles through the cool, fall air.