Location: Manayunk 📍
January 13, 2022
Hey SEPTA Rider! My name is Leslie S. and I am new to the SEPTA family. As a new employee and New Jersey resident I am currently learning my way around the system. There is much to learn and I wanted to bring our readers along my journey as I find new locations in the Philadelphia area and ways to get there on SEPTA!
Recently, I took a trip to the beautiful Philadelphia neighborhood, Manayunk, and paid one of our Perk Partners, Mi ‘N Tea, a friendly visit.
Before venturing off, I thought it would be a great idea to download the SEPTA App and lookup times and best routes to Manayunk from Center City. I decided to ride Regional Rail from Jefferson Station as it was only a 17-minute train ride.
Upon my arrival to Jefferson Station, I immediately searched for the Arrival Board to find which track the Manayunk/Norristown Line would be on. At first, I was nervous I would not find the correct track in time but there is plenty of signage throughout the station and there are announcements frequently being made about train arrivals on each track. So I tapped in and proceeded on my way to the platform.
The train arrived right on time and there was plenty of signage and announcements that assured me that I was boarding the right train and was going in the correct direction. For an extra level of reassurance, I took the time to look up the Regional Rail timetable PDF for the Manayunk/Norristown line, which was easily found on Google. Not all trains have digital signs displaying the next stop while on board. Even though the Conductors announce each stop, I know I can be easily distracted by my surroundings and scenery. The PDF helped me keep track of how many stops away I was from my destination.
When I arrived at Manayunk Station, I tapped out, looked over the platform and could easily see Main Street. Checking my phone GPS, I saw that Mi ‘N Tea was located right on Main Street and was only a 7-minute walk from the station. I got there in no time. I flashed my SEPTA Key card and received a discount on one of my new favorite drinks, a watermelon twist bubble tea (I highly recommend).
After I enjoyed my bubble tea and explored the other shops Main Street had to offer, I made my way back to the train station. Here comes the tricky part. I made it back to the platform then realized, I wasn’t on the correct side. I was on the side where I originally got off, the side headed to Norristown. I needed to be on the opposite side, headed towards Center City. I went back down the ramp and assumed the opposite side should be directly across the street, but it wasn’t. I thought I could easily locate another ramp, but there was no other ramp in sight. To say the least I was confused but not worried. A simple Google Map search was able to solve this mystery. The entrance to the other side of the platform was located at 115 Carson St which is a few blocks down from the outbound entrance and instead of a ramp, the entrance is in fact stairs inside of a structure. I made my way to the inbound entrance, tapped in, and waited for the trains arrival.
The ride back to Center City was peaceful. Most cars on Regional Rail are very quiet. It’s the perfect mode of transportation to ride if you’re looking to unwind and relax on your commute to or from work.
Lucky for me as a SEPTA employee, I can ride the system for free! For all other riders, the price of a one-way trip from Center City to Manayunk only costs $4.75 on weekdays and $4.25 on weekends if you're utilizing Travel Wallet on your SEPTA Key card. It is also important to remember that all SEPTA riders are required to wear a facemask for a safe and seamless ride.
Even if you're a newby like I am, you could also have a successful trip to Manayunk via SEPTA!
Click here to plan your trip!
