Parkesburg station is an Amtrak train station located at West First Avenue and South Culvert Street in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Amtrak Keystone Service trains. A station building exists at the stop, but is not currently used as a ticket office. Parkesburg has two low-level side platforms; a center track is not used for passenger service.

Parkesburg, PA
Parkesburg Amtrak station on the eastbound track 1, but looking west.
General information
Location501 Maple Street
Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
United States
Coordinates39°57′33″N 75°55′20″W / 39.95917°N 75.92222°W / 39.95917; -75.92222
Owned byAmtrak
Line(s)Amtrak Keystone Corridor
(Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks3
Connectionslocal transit TMACC: Coatesville Link
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: PAR
History
Opened1905[1]
ElectrifiedJanuary 15, 1938[2]
Passengers
FY 202321,309[3] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Lancaster
toward Harrisburg
Keystone Service Coatesville
toward New York
     Pennsylvanian does not stop here
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Lancaster
toward Pittsburgh
Pennsylvanian Coatesville
toward New York
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Terminus Parkesburg Line Coatesville
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
Lenover
toward Chicago
Main Line Pomeroy
Location
Map

History

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From c. 1914 until 1972, Parkesburg Tower was located near the Atlantic Avenue bridge. The tower served as a communication/signalling point for westbound (to Lancaster and beyond) trains, and a routing location for eastbound trains entering the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. A small service yard was also located nearby for both track service and to assist with sideling switching. Parkesburg Station once was the westernmost stop for the SEPTA R5 commuter line from April 2, 1990 (now the Paoli/Thorndale Line). It was truncated to Downingtown November 10, 1996[4] because of the need for trains to deadhead to Lancaster to turn around. It has since been re-extended to Thorndale, a few miles west of Downingtown.

In 1984, the station appeared in the movie Witness.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Parkesburg, PA (PAR)". Great American Stations. Amtrak.
  2. ^ "Pennsy Completes New Electric Link". The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. January 15, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "SEPTA Board Cuts Service; But Opposition is Spirited". The Philadelphia Daily News. October 25, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  5. ^ "Parkesburg Yesterday". Parkesburg Today. 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
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