SEPTA's Makes Preliminary Plans to Extend Paoli-Thorndale Line

Atglen's train station pictured at the turn of the century was demolished in 1965.

Several weeks ago when PennDot announced they would undertake a multi year effort to enhance Parkesburg train station, several readers asked about plans to reintroduce SEPTA trains to Parkesburg.

The following comprehensive report published by the Chester County Planning Commission in February details the planning and construction of a passenger rail station in Atglen Borough to the west of Parkesburg  and the extension of SEPTA's Paoli-Thorndale line to serve Atglen and presumably Parkesburg as well.

Highlights of the reports:

Site of the proposed new Atglen Station

• History of the Atglen train station, a station demolished in 1965 (page 3) and the proposed location of a new station on land owned by Amtrak (page 8).
• Median household income of Atglen residents is $2,300 higher than Parkesburg's but $20,000 below Chester County's median income. (page18)
• 70% of study area residents, an area that includes the Borough of Parkesburg, drive alone to work while 15% or residents carpool. (page 20)
• Parking for at least 100-110 autos will be required at both the proposed Atglen as well as the refurbished Parkesburg station.  (Page 30)

Thanks go out to Atglen Borough Council member Larry Lavenberg for supplying Parkesburg Today with a copy of this report.
Atglen EXISTING Conditions Memo