30th Street Station
| Company type | Transportation hub |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Philadelphia metropolitan area |
| Owner | Amtrak |
| Website | www |
30th Street Station, formally known as the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, stands as a significant intermodal transportation center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1933 under the name Pennsylvania Station–30th Street, it succeeded the 1881 Broad Street station as the main terminal for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the city. It is currently the third most frequented Amtrak station across the United States, serving upwards of 4.1 million travelers in 2023.
As a vital hub within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, 30th Street Station is a principal stop on Amtrak's Northeast and Keystone routes. Additionally, it operates as a major commuter rail station for all SEPTA Regional Rail lines and marks the western endpoint of NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line. The facility also accommodates a variety of SEPTA city and suburban bus lines, along with services provided by NJ Transit, Amtrak Thruway, and other intercity carriers.
In 2018, the station saw more than four million passengers utilizing intercity rail services. It was renamed in 2020 to honor William H. Gray III, who represented Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. Congress from 1979 until 1991.
Description
Situated at 2955 Market Street within the 30th Street Station District of University City, near both the Schuylkill River and Center City, 30th Street Station commenced operations in 1933 and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ranking as Amtrak's third-busiest station nationally and Pennsylvania's busiest, it serves over four million Amtrak passengers annually alongside more than 12 million commuters using SEPTA and NJ TRANSIT services. On an average weekday, passenger traffic exceeds 100,000.[1]
The station's Amtrak code is PHL, while its IATA Airport Code is ZFV. This airport code is mainly utilized through a codeshare arrangement with United Airlines for travel between this station and Newark Liberty International Airport.
20th century
During the early twentieth century, the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) obtained tunnel rights extending from the Schuylkill River to 15th Street from city authorities, in exchange for land allocated for the development of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This agreement allowed PRR to replace the aging Broad Street station with 30th Street Station and to construct Suburban Station. Unlike Broad Street—a stub-end terminal located downtown where trains had to reverse direction—PRR aimed to establish a site better suited for continuous through service between New York City and Washington, D.C.. Suburban Station was specifically designed to accommodate commuter rail traffic.
Construction on 30th Street Station began in 1927, culminating in its opening in 1933 with two platform tracks.[2] The Chicago-based architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, successors to D.H. Burnham & Company, designed the station initially known as Pennsylvania Station–30th Street. The design took advantage of electrification along the Northeast Corridor, enabling trains to pass beneath without exposure to steam engine soot. Among its innovative elements were a pneumatic tube system, an electronic intercom network, a reinforced roof capable of supporting small aircraft landings,[3] and facilities including a mortuary, chapel, and over 3,000 square feet dedicated to hospital use.[4] The waiting area showcases travertine cladding alongside a coffered ceiling painted in gold, red, and cream hues. The exterior architecture blends classical motifs with modern design through columned porte-cocheres on both frontages.[4]
Due to impacts from the Great Depression and World War II, Broad Street station remained operational until 1952.[5] Up until 1958, Philadelphia maintained two principal intercity stations: 30th Street Station and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s Chestnut Street station. Following Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s cessation of service north of Baltimore in 1958, 30th Street became the primary intercity terminal serving the entire Delaware Valley area.
Solari board
During the 1970s, Amtrak installed a Solari board manufactured by Solari di Udine within the primary waiting area to present train departure schedules. On November 30, 2018, authorities declared that this board—then the final Solari unit still in use by Amtrak—would be replaced by a modern digital screen. This decision sparked some public dissatisfaction, leading Representative Brendan Boyle to call on Amtrak CEO Richard H. Anderson to reconsider the replacement.
By January 2019, Amtrak transferred the Solari board to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania located in Strasburg, retaining the option to retrieve it for future station renovations. The new digital display commenced operation on February 28, 2019. Subsequently, in July 2019, the Museum exhibited the Solari board as a static artifact; following refurbishment, plans are in place for it to be reintegrated as a decorative feature.
21st century
In 2005, the Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trust proposed renaming 30th Street Station to "Ben Franklin Station" as a tribute to Benjamin Franklin during his tercentenary in 2006, with projected costs for updating signage approximated at $3 million.
While Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street endorsed this proposal, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell expressed only mild enthusiasm, and Amtrak officials raised concerns about potential confusion with other stations bearing "Penn" in their names. The initiative was quietly discontinued in January 2006 without further clarification.
In August 2014, legislation was enacted by Congress to rename the station William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in honor of the late Philadelphia-area Congressman William H. Gray III. New signage reflecting this designation was installed in 2019 alongside plans for a commemorative statue and plaque. The official renaming took effect on February 6, 2020.
Owned by Amtrak, the facility spans 562,000 ft2 (52,000 m2) and houses Amtrak’s corporate offices, although the company’s headquarters are situated near Washington Union Station. The main passenger hall is distinguished by its elaborate Art Deco architecture and prominently features the Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial, a bronze sculpture by Walker Hancock honoring Pennsylvania Railroad employees who lost their lives during World War II.
The station underwent restoration in 1991 led by Dan Peter Kopple & Associates, which included enhancements such as updated retail spaces featuring various shops, an expansive food court, car rental services, Saxbys Coffee, and Dunkin' Donuts outlets.
The Amtrak 30th Street Parking Garage, designed by BLT Architects and completed in 2004, provides 2,100 parking spots across nine stories and includes a glass-enclosed stair tower offering views of the cityscape. In 2005, the nearby Cira Centre office building opened as the station’s inaugural transit-oriented development, developed by Brandywine Realty Trust through a ground lease agreement. A pedestrian bridge was constructed to connect the station with both the garage and Cira Centre, effectively separating pedestrian flow from vehicular traffic.
In 2016, Amtrak collaborated with Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel University, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects to unveil the 30th Street Station District master plan. This extensive 35-year strategy aims to upgrade and expand the station’s capacity to serve between 20 and 25 million passengers annually, enlarge the outdoor plaza area, enhance connectivity with SEPTA Metro, and create a centralized intercity bus terminal. The vision includes up to 18 million square feet of new development through Schuylkill Yards and expansion over Penn Coach Yard, potentially accommodating around 10,000 residents and generating approximately 40,000 jobs.
In 2023, Amtrak partnered with Plenary Group to announce a $400 million renovation project funded partially by resources from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This marks phase one of the District Plan implementation. Planned improvements include upgraded retail and food court facilities; consolidation of ticketing and operational functions to free up concourse space; expansion of the Market Street "Porch" plaza; refurbishment of Amtrak offices and the Metropolitan Lounge; alongside infrastructure enhancements. Construction commenced in early 2024 with completion targeted for October 2027; however, a direct connection to SEPTA is not part of this phase.
Street access
The station is accessible by several major roads and highways, including Market Street (PA 3), Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway), and Interstate 676 (Vine Street Expressway), facilitating vehicle and taxi entry. Located just east of the station is the John F. Kennedy Boulevard Bridge.
Rail access
This transportation hub accommodates trains operated by SEPTA, Amtrak, and NJ Transit. The Upper Level consists of three east-west platforms that serve all 13 SEPTA Regional Rail lines, integrated within the Center City Commuter Connection. Meanwhile, the Lower Level’s north-south platforms cater to Amtrak services and NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line.
Nearby, approximately 0.1 miles from the station’s southwest entrance, the 30th Street subway station provides access to SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line and all subway–surface trolley routes (T1–T5). A pedestrian tunnel once linked this subway stop directly to the lower-level platforms but was closed in the 1980s due to safety issues. Efforts to restore the tunnel in the early 2000s were discontinued following the events of September 11.
Multiple SEPTA bus lines, including routes 9, 30, 31, 44, 49, 62, 124, 125, as well as the LUCY (Loop through University City) service, have stops at or near the station.
Cira Centre
Situated north across Arch Street from the station is the Cira Centre, a 28-story office building characterized by its glass-and-steel design, which opened in October 2005. It connects to the station’s mezzanine near the upper-level SEPTA Regional Rail platforms via a skybridge. Owned by Philadelphia-based Brandywine Realty Trust, the tower was designed by César Pelli and BLT Architects and constructed on land leased from Amtrak.
Metropolitan Lounge
Within the station is an Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge available to Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus and Select Executive members, Acela Express first-class travelers, passengers occupying sleeping cars on overnight routes, and owners or lessees of private railcars transported by Amtrak.
Rental cars and car sharing
The station hosts rental car counters for Budget, National, Avis, Alamo, and Hertz. Zipcar vehicles are also accessible outside, predominantly stationed in reserved spots on the south side or within a secured lot near Cira Centre during ongoing construction.
In popular culture
30th Street Station has been featured in numerous films including Glass (2019), The Visit (2015), The Happening (2008), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Unbreakable (2000), Witness (1985), Trading Places (1983), Blow Out (1981), Marnie (1964), The Burglar (1957), and Pride of the Marines (1945).
On television, it appears in the opening credits of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and in season 2, episode 7 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The station also makes an appearance in the 2010 video game Heavy Rain.
- ↑ "30th Street Station Investment Development Program", Amtrak.com]
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