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8th–Market station

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Coordinates: 39°57′07″N 75°09′24″W / 39.952076°N 75.156612°W / 39.952076; -75.156612
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 8th–Market
The PATCO platform in May 2014
General information
Location8th and Market streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°57′07″N 75°09′24″W / 39.952076°N 75.156612°W / 39.952076; -75.156612
Owned byCity of Philadelphia
Platforms3 side platforms, 1 island platform
Tracks5
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Bicycle facilitiesRacks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedAugust 3, 1908 (1908-08-3)[1][2]
Previous namesMarket Street (Broad–Ridge)
8th Street (Market–Frankford and Broad–Ridge) (1908–2025)
Key dates
1932Lower level opened
1968Broad Ridge platform added
2009Station renovated for accessibility
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Metro Following station
11th Street
toward 69th Street Transit Center
 5th Street/ Independence Hall
toward Frankford Transit Center
Terminus linkB (SEPTA Metro)#Broad–Ridge Spur Chinatown
toward Fern Rock Transit Center
Preceding station DRPA Following station
9–10th & Locust
toward 15–16th & Locust
 PATCO Speedline Franklin Square
toward Lindenwold
Location
Map

8th–Market station is a rapid transit station complex at the intersection of 8th Street and Market Street in Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is served by SEPTA Metro's L and B3 trains, as well as the PATCO Speedline. It is the only station where these three lines intersect. The entire complex is owned by the City of Philadelphia, with the Delaware River Port Authority (owner of PATCO) and SEPTA leasing space for operations.[3][4]

The station complex comprises three platforms, one for the L line, one for the B3 line, and the 8th & Market station on the PATCO Speedline. These are arranged across three underground levels. The upper mezzanine level spans above the L line tracks, the middle level accommodates the east-west-running L line and the northbound B3 line, and a lower level serving the PATCO Speedline, which runs north–south. Each platform has fare control and entrances/exits, though they are connected via the shared mezzanine level.

For much of the 20th century, the corner of 8th and Market was a retail hub for the city, home to major department stores includingStrawbridge's, Gimbels and Lit Brothers, all of which had direct access to the station complex. Today, that underground connection serves the Fashion District Philadelphia shopping mall, which offers indirect access to SEPTA Regional Rail at Jefferson Station, as well as connections to the B line via the Downtown Link concourse.[5]

History

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Accessible ramp between a Market–Frankford Line platform and the mezzanine

The east-west upper level platforms (now Market–Frankford Line) opened on August 3, 1908, as part of the first extension of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company's 1907-opened Market Street Subway.[1][2] On December 21, 1932, the Broad-Ridge Spur of the Broad Street Line opened, with its terminus at a new lower-level island platform (signed as Market Street).[6] Bridge Line service to Camden began on June 7, 1936, using a 1932-built tunnel connecting the lower level tracks to the Delaware River Bridge.

Beginning in 1949, Ridge Spur and Bridge Line trains were through-routed, reversing at Market Street station.[7] On February 15, 1953, the Locust Street Subway opened, extending the lower level tracks south and west to 16th and Locust streets.[8][9] Bridge Line trains were extended to 16th and Locust, while Ridge Spur trains terminated at Market. In January 1954, due to low ridership on the extension, off-peak service and Saturday again began operating between Girard and Camden, with a shuttle train operating between 8th and 16th stations. Sunday service was suspended at that time due to minimal usage.[10]

Over the weekend of August 23–27, 1968, tracks at the station were reconfigured as part of the construction of the Lindenwold High-Speed Line (PATCO Speedline). Ridge Spur trains were redirected to a new single-track upper level terminus platform, separating the spur from the 8th–Locust Street subway. Bridge Line service was temporarily divided into 16th and Locust–8th Street and 8th Street–Camden segments, with a cross-platform transfer at 8th Street.[11] Bridge Line service was suspended from December 29, 1968, to February 15, 1969, when the new service began.[12][13]

The station complex was made accessible in 2009. One of the escalators was replaced from spring 2015 to spring 2016 as part of SEPTA's Center City Concourse Improvement Program.[14]

Station layout

[edit]
Broad–Ridge Spur platform

The Market–Frankford Line's station is located on the upper platform level. There are two side platforms on the north and south sides of the tracks. Passengers may transfer between platforms via an upper mezzanine both inside and outside the paid area of the station. This mezzanine area also connects to the lower level of the Fashion District Philadelphia shopping mall. As a Market–Frankford Line station, columns and accent work throughout the two platforms are painted blue.

The B3 station is the southern terminus of the line. There is a single track and platform located perpendicular and adjacent to the Market–Frankford westbound platform. There is no free connection to the Market–Frankford Line, as the MFL has a free connection to the main B1/B2 at 15th Street/City Hall station. Trains on this platform level formerly used a now-abandoned track to connect to the Locust Street subway (now part of the PATCO Speedline). The station was originally named Market Street, as evidenced by the tile work on the station, and the line was originally named the "Ridge–8th subway" due to its southern terminus at this station. As a Broad Street Line station, columns and accent work on the platform are painted orange.

The lower level of the complex houses PATCO's 8th & Market station. PATCO Speedline trains stop at an island platform perpendicular to the Market–Frankford platforms. There are two fare control barriers located directly underneath each Market–Frankford Line platform. Each fare control area contains a staircase, an elevator, and "up" escalator. Each PATCO platform has a distinct accent color: the 8th & Market accent color is teal.

The Broad–Ridge Spur and Market–Frankford Line platforms, while on the same level, are perpendicular to each other.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Cox, Harold E. (1967). May, Jack (ed.). The Road from Upper Darby. The Story of the Market Street Subway-Elevated. New York, NY: Electric Railroaders' Association. p. 16. OCLC 54770701.
  2. ^ a b Hepp, John (2013). "Subways and Elevated Lines". The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.
  3. ^ Fisher, Christine (December 12, 2013). "SEPTA to improve user experience in Center City's underground concourses". WHYY. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  4. ^ Fitzgerald, Thomas (March 19, 2025). "PATCO will stop running overnight trains to clean its stations". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  5. ^ ISEPTAPHILLY Blog. "Route of the Week – Broad-Ridge Spur". SEPTA. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "PTC to Link Camden and Girard Ave", The Philadelphia Inquirer, p. 23, June 23, 1949 – via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ "Mere 150 Miles of Cable Stalls Locust Subway Start". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 5, 1953. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Philadelphia Transportation Company (February 13, 1953). "Beginning Sunday, February 15: New Highspeed Rail Service to and through Central Philadelphia via Bridge Line and Locust St. Subway (advertisement)". Courier-Post. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Lack of Riders to Cut Service On Locust Street Subway: Full Shutdown On Sundays Listed by PTC". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 6, 1954. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Ridge Ave. Subway Halted for Weekend; Buses to Substitute". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 21, 1968. p. 41 – via Newspaper.com.
  11. ^ DeGraw, Ronald (February 14, 1969). "High-Speed Transit Opens Saturday From Lindenwold to Phila". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ DeGraw, Ronald (January 26, 1969). "Full High-Speed Line Cannot Open Because Of Signal Troubles". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Center City Concourse Improvement Program | Phase 1 Fact Sheet". SEPTA. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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Media related to 8th Street station (Philadelphia) at Wikimedia Commons

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