Marcus Hook - (SEPTA Newark/Wilmington Line)

Marcus Hook is southernmost station in Pennsylvania on the Northeast Corridor. It was the terminus of all SEPTA Regional Rail trains along the Northeast Corridor south of Philadelphia from the transfer of Philadelphia-area commuter rail operations to SEPTA from Conrail on January 1, 1983 until the State of Delaware decided to fund service to Wilmington in 1989 re-extending some trains. As of 2004 some service still originates or terminates at Marcus Hook including some weekday midday trains when there is hourly or better service to Marcus Hook but service only every two hours continuing to Wilmington and Delaware.

The station is extremely simple for a terminus station with two low-level side platforms for the four-track Northeast Corridor. These platforms both lead back to parking lots with a total of 240 spaces for the station. The Delaware-bound platform leads out to Morton Avenue, the Philadelphia-bound platform leads back to West 12th Street, houses are visible from the station, but just southwest is a large industrial area full of petrochemical storage tanks.

The only passenger amenity is on the Philadelphia-bound platform where there is a small canopy painted turquois covering one bench. Attached to this canopy is a modular station house that requires steps to go up to a porch to enter the station house from the platform, at its only entrance. Inside is a sales office still open in 2024 on weekday mornings. This platform isn't always the Philadelphia-bound platform with signage on the station house reading “Trains to Philadelphia Originating at Marcus Hook May Depart From Either Side Of Tracks.”.

These platforms are connected by the bridge of Market Street that leads over the northern end of the platforms. Pedestrians use the southern sidewalk of Market Street as the crossover between the sides of the station with staircases down to each platform. When I visited in 2013 these were simple staircases, while in 2021 these staircases were replaced by combined staircase/ramp-structure with a couple of switchbacks as part of a two-phased project that will eventually build high-level platforms at the station. These ramps are completely covered by canopy structures.
Photos 1-38: October 23, 2013; 39: September 4, 2024;

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Stepping off a Philadelphia-bound train at Marcus Hook

Silverliner IV #180 leaves for Chestnut Hill East via Center City at the back of a two car train

Looking down the platform two staircases connect the two low-level side platforms via a road bridge

The little canopy and modular depot on the Philadelphia-bound platform

The simple bench for passengers waiting for trains to Philadelphia

Looking across the tracks to the Outbound platform, next stop Delaware!

The door into the depot up some steps on a little porch since its a modular building

Signs for Trains to Philadelphia and that Trains to Philadelphia Originating at Marcus Hook May Depart from Either Side of tracks, plus a small Ticket Office Closed sign on the sides of the depot

Looking down the NEC and the low-level platform with just little steps for boarding passengers

Looking across wooden boarding crossings

The southern end of the depot at Marcus Hook

A side view of the blue and teal depot

Looking out at the fairly full parking lot late afternoon on a weekday

The back of the modular ticket office with a Coins only pay box to pay the $1.00 for parking

The tiny drop off driveway, and drop off only parking space in front of the platform

Parked cars and the stairs to get to the Outbound platform beyond

At the bottom of one staircase up to the Market Street bridge

Warning Signs for High-Speed Electric Trains on the beams holding up the catenary wires

Looking down on the wide but without passenger amenities outbound platform at Marcus Hook

The blur of an Acela Express going through the station

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