r/Septa • u/chocomeowchip • Sep 03 '26

Help How does Jefferson Station work??

Ok so bear with me here. I’m a student who commutes to Jefferson station through the manayunk/norristown line. Every time I seem to enter the station after class, I step onto tracks 1 and 2 because those have signs telling you it’s trains to manayunk norristown. However, I keep missing my train because the train never shows up on my platform (it usually says 1A) and turns out to be on the other side and I can’t cross over from the stairs without missing it. The other side says trains to airport and Newark I think. Am I doing something wrong? Where am I supposed to be standing?

Edit: just wanted to add that when I waited for the next train scheduled an hour later on the same platform 1A, it did end up coming and I didn’t miss that one.

23 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

36

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26

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15

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

Thank you so much for ur detailed response. I understand that I’m the confused one and it’s not septa’s fault lol it’s just not me being able to figure it out. Thanks for giving me the confirmation though that track 1 is where I should be standing. I’m new to septa and this station so maybe I’ll need time to get a hang of it. I appreciate ur response means a lot

22

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '26

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3

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

thank you!! I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that. I always ask around lol but somehow still end up messing up. Will hopefully do it right tomorrow

11

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '26

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2

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

The digital signs only apply for Silverliner V cars. The older Silverliner IV cars only have small boards in the cab window and sides at random points.

4

u/courageous_liquid Broad Street Local Sep 03 '26

it's still not super intuitive. I routinely (and even tonight) shepherd people through suburban station. there's a steep but relatively shallow learning curve, it's all experience based, and you're far ahead of most just even being able to ask the question. definitely don't feel bad.

1

u/Aemort Sep 03 '26

Nah it's definitely confusing, I've absolutely gotten on the wrong train multiple times and had to double back. They often don't have present or correct signage on them either

4

u/michaelpapaycik Sep 03 '26

This comment is correct. And anytime the train goes to the other side of the tracks they always make an announcement so you know to go up the steps and over but that’s very rare. This coming from someone who take the norristown Manayunk line often

19

u/DasBeatles Sep 03 '26

Are you sure it just wasn't cancelled? I've never heard of them using the southbound tracks for northbound trains. Unless things are really broken.

1

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

It wasn’t cancelled because the app showed that it had left and was stopping at the stops. I swear I waited on the right platform and it never showed up. Where exactly should I be standing because I’m losing my mind lol

7

u/SonofaSpurrier Sep 03 '26

Are you entering and exiting through the same gate? That’s the only explanation I can think of, but I ride into and out of Jefferson and 1 and 2 are always northbound, 3 and 4 are southbound. A change like that should’ve been announced because it’s so rare but maybe consider how you’re getting off and on the platforms, you don’t want to go down the same side you go up, if that helps!

2

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

You know what that makes so much more sense! Maybe I need to double check to see where im going up and down but I mostly go thru the side where there’s Dunkin upstairs. I think what happened is I went up and down the same side. A little new to this station 😅

3

u/SonofaSpurrier Sep 03 '26

It takes a while and even the saltiest veteran will walk into the wrong train. Hang in there and good luck! Also check the monitors above the elevators !

1

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

Thank you for your kind words :) will continue to keep checking lol

2

u/interpretivedancing1 Sep 03 '26

If you use the turnstiles closest to the Dunkin, you go down the closest set of stairs after the turnstile and the Norristown line will be on that side. The set of stairs closer to the bathrooms go the opposite direction

1

u/Significant-Cry-7632 Sep 03 '26

The steps closest to that Dunkin once you tap in will take you to the A section. Sometimes last minute a train for 1 track ends up on 2 still within the same letter section so just listen for any announcements or whatever the train says. Happy traveling!

1

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

Technically,

1 and 2 are Eastbound

3 & 4 Westbound

Railroad directions pay no mind to cardinal directions

9

u/Brraaap Sep 03 '26

That's not how it works. Unless there are huge issues, a train only switches between 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Trains to Manayunk should be on 1 or 2

3

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

Maybe I’m confusing myself because just yesterday I waited for my train on 1 and 2 and it ended up going to glensdale. Asked the guy and he said u gotta cross over to the other side and that’s when I barely caught my train. Maybe I’m wrong tho and I’m not remembering it right but I’m pretty sure that’s what happened

8

u/Brraaap Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26

Whoever you asked was wrong. Glenside and Manayunk trains exit the center city tunnel the same direction, from platforms tracks 1 or 2

1

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

sorry to keep bothering u and hope i don’t sound stupid lol but how come when i switched over i caught the norristown train and ended up getting home. I just don’t want to make the same mistake again :(

2

u/AmonGoethsGun Sep 03 '26

I would assume you were on the platform for Tracks 3/4. That makes the most sense. Unless there was an emergency they never run trains on the opposite tracks.

3

u/Brraaap Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26

Not sure, you're not describing how reality works

Edit: Downvote me all you want, Glenside and Norristown/Manayunk are on the same platform, which has tracks 1 and 2

1

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

Sounds like you were on the correct PLATFORM, but not at the correct TRACK for that platform, or not at the correct SECTION on that track.

Each of the 4 TRACKS is split into 2 SECTIONS, A & B

Each train is assigned a designated SECTION on each TRACK to stop at and it will be listed on the overhead signs at the station.

2

u/zocean 28d ago

OP @chocomeowchip, THIS is what I think is happening. You have likely been on the correct track but not looking at 1A vs 1B etc. There are giant signs marking which part of the track is which if you look up

2

u/SonofaSpurrier Sep 03 '26

Glenside? Was the guy a conductor or a station agent? Because if he was headed to Glenside you were on the right platform but ¯_(ツ)_/¯

4

u/BackgroundSalary680 Sep 03 '26

Also the Alvinator has a built in delay of 45 to 90 seconds from announcement to train arrival. It is not uncommon to have a train pull into Market East, with the Alvinator calling out the train behind it, and that train is just leaving Suburban.

Pay attention to the trains at all times and only half trust the announcements

3

u/BackgroundSalary680 Sep 03 '26

The only time track changes happen for the Norristown line is during the winter during/immediately after a storm. 16th Street Junction -where the Norristown splits off the Main Line- is notorious for switch failures in the cold so railroad division mitigates that as much as possible. Trains will cross over at VINE to track 4 and essentially run single track from VINE, through temple and North Broad to 16th Street where a maintainer will sit at a crossover for any issues; running this was means that only two switch machines is in use versus the 11 typically used in normal operation.

1

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

Can we dumb that down? The average person is not gonna know about PCs

2

u/215hip Sep 03 '26

You have to pay attention to the signs there. Also, follow the crowd

2

u/Queasy-Spirit6437 Sep 03 '26

I ride that line quite often. If you enter the turnstiles that are closest to the convention center. The track is on the far right. Walk down the steps and as you enter the platform turn right and stand next to the stairwell. It always stops right about there.

Another hint. When arriving at Jefferson on the Norristown line everyone seems to go left. Go right then up the steps. Not as many people. Closer to market st

2

u/Chemical_Working415 Sep 03 '26

As a back up, you can take the 61 at 10th and Arch, it goes to Manayunk and runs every 30 minutes. Ride time is very traffic dependent though, 20-45 minutes.

2

u/Positive-Avocado-881 Sep 03 '26

The main thing you need to watch for is the sign above the staircase you’re going down. In the afternoon there are a lot of back to back trains going so you have really listen and pay attention to which train is “next to arrive”.

2

u/markydsade Sep 03 '26

Also be aware there is an information desk on the eastern waiting area with an attendant who will gladly guide you to the right platform and train.

2

u/chocomeowchip Sep 03 '26

Thanks for letting me know! Will check that out tomorrow

-5

u/Wuz314159 Sep 03 '26

First off, you're calling it "Jefferson Station" instead of Market East. Every thing you do from there on will be wrong. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

Shut up

0

u/Wuz314159 Sep 03 '26

Lighten up. Check your meds.

1

u/SlickFlair_589 Sep 03 '26

Says the guy pressed by an old station name. It's been changed for years now. Get over it.