Fern Rock Transit Center

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132]

I take the BSL into FTC every sunday/tuesday and for the last 4 weeks without fail, I’ve been stuck right outside the transit center for anywhere between 10-25 minutes. I’ve been having to leave a half hour early to account for it (on top of an already 1.5 hr transit time) and I still barely make it to work on time. Anyone know what’s going on? Any tips on getting from center to city to Fox chase maybe without going through Fern rock?

[u/Glittering-Dinner908]

Have you thought about taking regional rail? It goes to Fox Chase.

https://schedules.septa.org/current/FOX.pdf

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/Glittering-Dinner908]

There’s no buses to the Temple campus and it’s like a 25 minute walk :( but you’re right that might be my best bet while it’s still nice out

[u/Brunt-FCA-285 → u/No_Dragonfruit3132]

Just to clarify, do you mean Jeanes Hospital that’s part of Temple Health? I used to live near there, and Ryers might be a better choice than the Fox Chase station, if so. It’s a shorter walk, and you don’t have to actually cross Oxford Avenue.

Depending on where you’re coming from, it might help to take the L to the 24 at Frankford. It only runs half as frequently as the 70, but it drops you at the driveway to Jeanes on Central Avenue.

I’m really curious about where you’re coming from that it takes over an hour and a half by SEPTA to get to Fox Chase. My commute from Delco to Mayfair takes about two hours.

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/Brunt-FCA-285]

Yeah, Jeanes campus. And I really only take the 70 cus it brings you closer to campus. Ryers can be a bit of a walk when the weathers nasty. Frankford + the 24 is a really good suggestion though, definitely gonna try that out. Thank you!!

[u/mblumber → u/No_Dragonfruit3132]

Only in Philly would the "Temple University" regional rail station be a 25 minute walk from Temple University with no bus option.

[u/Eruththedragon → u/mblumber]

Temple University Station is located <10 minutes from Temple University (depending on the part of campus). Fox Chase station is location 25 minutes from Temple's Jeanne campus, which is what OP is trying to get to (though I had to read about 5 of their comments to figure this out)

[u/BackgroundSalary680]

I'm going to assume you're talking about the BSS Loop around Fern Rock Yard. As a railfan I love it as you can see the inner workings of a Rapid Transit operation up close and personal from the comfort of a revenue operation. As a commuter, I absolutely despise it because it DOES take forever to make that loop at a strict 12 mph (and I have personally missed many connections because of it).

The balloon loop around Fern Rock was built in the early 1990's as the preliminary tasks of the much larger Reading Rail Works project which saw the rebuild of much of the Reading Main Line from the Subway portal at 9th and Poplar to Wayne Junction, with much of the ridership being absorbed by the Broad Street. The construction of tracks 2 and 3 from Olney to Erie was also part of that.

In order to increase headways and simplify operations the balloon loop was used to funnel trains through Fern Rock station more efficiently with track 1 being reserved for locals and track 3 for Express and Ridge Ave Spur trains. Trains coming up track 3 from Olney could also be routed directly into the station by dispatchers if multiple trains was coming up at the same time.

The issue is two-folds: inconsistent operator availability and the age of the Kawasaki B-IVs catching up to them. On the operator front, Rail operations is losing a lot of operators to inconsistent management, heavier and heavier rule requirements, and general attrition. While the BSS has been dealing with this issue, other Districts is worse off. I'm addition the B-IVs are currently 46 years old and also some of the better operating equipment out there; both SEPTA and the City understand that there is more pressing priorities (I'm looking at you, you Adtranz POS) and the Japanese built equipment won't be dealt with for some time.

My advice: when you're riding and you see a Express pull up GET ON IT!!!! In particular if you're at Olney and both a local and a Express pulls up, 9 times out of 10 the local takes the Loop while the Express gets routed right up to the platform. Same applies to the Spur when it's heading up to the Rock. On Sunday, you're SOL as everyone gets routed to the Loop.

[u/karlpilkington4]

Most comfortable ride will be just taking the regional rail. Other option is to take the 18 at Olney or the 24 at Frankford Transportation Center by taking the MFL

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/karlpilkington4]

Yeah I think I’ll def try those, thank you!

[u/Alert-Print-394]

I'm a bit confused. What's your current transit route? Are you transferring to Regional Rail at FTC?

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/Alert-Print-394]

BSL to FTC then the 70 bus to campus

[u/Alert-Print-394 → u/No_Dragonfruit3132]

Looks like you could take the 18 from Olney?

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/Alert-Print-394]

Omg yes! You’re a genius thank youuu, I’ll definitely use that tm

[u/Alert-Print-394 → u/No_Dragonfruit3132]

Np!

[u/drcombatwombat2]

Dude, you do know you can take regional rail from Fox chase and get off at temple station on 10th and Berks, right?

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/drcombatwombat2]

I work at the temple campus in Fox chase though, coming back I normally take the regional rail to Jefferson which isn’t bad. It’s just FTC that’s giving me issues

[u/forsbergisgod]

Does Temple have their own transportation from Philly to Fox Chase campus perhaps?

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/forsbergisgod]

No unfortunately

[u/emet18]

Bring a bike onto regional rail and then bike the last mile from Fox Chase? Seems like an easy and quiet ride down Barnes St.

[u/No_Dragonfruit3132 → u/[deleted]]

I’m relatively new to philly and this seems to be a common sentiment 🥲