Churchman's Crossing (according to the SEPTA Regional Rail Map and Schedule) Fairplay Rail Station at Churchmans Crossing or just Fairplay Station (according to DART First State, who own's the station and SEPTA operates under contract with materials, no apostrophe in Churchmans either) opened as an infill station in 2000 as in intermediate stop for SEPTA rush hour trains that had been extended from Wilmington to Newark. The station is owned by and service on this line is funded by DART First State, resulting in the station having unique Delaware only signage, of white text on blue. The signs look like they were made in shared with a streets department sign shop with reflective highway-style material.
The station consists of a single low-level side platform along the southern track of the three tracks in this area northeast corridor. The platform has a single mini-high platform boarding area at the southern end of the platform. This wooden mini-high platform accessible via a ramp has a platform edge can be hydraulically raised or lowered to allow additional clearance or be flush with a stopped train. Passenger amenities are exclusively two black bus shelters that include benches and have the DART first state logo embedded on the tops of them.
To leave the platform there is a single staircase that leads up the side of the embankment 20 feet above. When I visited in 2013, ADA access was provided by a wheelchair incline platform lift. This wheelchair lift (with a sign saying that passengers must be seated while riding this lift) is in its own little portion of the staircase with a railing separating it from the main staircase. There are chains at the top and bottom of the lift that say Do Not Enter: Lift Use only. These types of stair lifts aren't very accessible, and require a station attendant (in Delaware, a private security guard) to operate. This staircase is covered by a translucent domed roof.
Luckily in the mid-2010s (after my visit, completed by 2018) a proper elevator was added next to the staircase, improving station accessibility for everyone. This elevator is just south of the staircase.
The staircase leads up to an opening through a gate with a white fence. The gate is closed and locked during non-rush hours when service isn't operating. By the gate is a modular booth for the station's security guard. Beyond this a short path leads out to the edge of the stations drop off loop, with commuter parking in two different lots to the east. To the west the station's six bay bus loop, three bus bays are just outside the station entrance. The other three are located across a further, small central parking lot in the middle of the bus loop. This small parking lot contains the stations accessible parking spaces. All six bus stops have square shelters with brick bottoms and bay numbers (1 through 6) on top of the shelters.
The stop is located on the property of the Delaware Park Racetrack and is surrounded by grass. All access to the station is from Delaware Park Drive. This roadway continues across the Northeast Corridor just north of the station platform to service a country club and then the Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino just north of here.
The station does have a multi-use path directly too it, providing sidewalk access to the surrounding suburban area. The closest destination is Christiana Hospital, just a half-mile from the station and who’s surface parking crater around it is directly across Olegtown Station Road from the grass that surrounds the rail station’s two small parking lots (with plenty of room for the grass to be paved over for expansion if ever needed).
Photos 1-59: October 23, 2013;
