What if I told you there’s something in Philly that’s expected to return from its grave this fall?
Don’t get scared. It’s just a subway station.
It’s been 45 years since a PATCO rider has boarded a train to New Jersey at Franklin Square Station, but that’s supposed to change soon. PATCO, the commuter train to New Jersey, has been working on renovating this so-called “ghost station” into a functioning, ADA-accessible subway stop adorned with green-and-white tiles from the 1930s.
First opened in 1936, Franklin Square Station was one piece of a train line between Camden and Philly. Throughout its history, though, the station — located in one of the city’s oldest public parks — has struggled to establish itself as a mainstay.
According to the Inquirer, the station closed a few years after it was built, reopened during World War II, closed again after the war, was resurrected in 1953 when it became part of a longer commuter line, eventually shut down again, and then reopened in 1976 after some renovations as part of the United States’ bicentennial celebrations. It was removed from use once again in 1979 due to lack of ridership and concerns about illegal activities happening in the park.
Talks about reopening the station again have been happening for more than 20 years. Now, officials are hopeful that new businesses, tourism, and recent residential development in the surrounding neighborhoods will draw more people to the station — and to PATCO overall. In 2019, PATCO’s president estimated that the station could draw around 1,500 new riders to the transit line.
Although the $30 million restoration project appears to be close to wrapping up, it’s not clear exactly when the station will be ready for riders. WHYY reported in February that it would open to the public this summer or fall, and PATCO referred to the station as “soon-to-be open” on its X account in August. The latest construction update posted to the project’s website is from June, though the website notes that a fall 2024 opening is expected. PATCO did not return Hey Philly’s request for comment on the timeline.
