Any pointers on getting from Exton to CC via train? is the Exton train station chaotic and hard to park? (Norristown: credit, home)

[luckyduck2010]

Any recommendations would be helpful! My husband needs to commute from our home in 19382 to center city daily. Does anyone have recommendations on the best way to make this commute?

The train ride seems a little bit long from Exton and the station seems crowded. I'm wondering, does anyone opt for AMTRAK instead of Septa for this commute? Maybe he should consider driving to another train station... any options will be appreciated!

[DarkWolf]

My friend told me its only 6.50$ form Downingtown via the Keystone Service to 30th Street station , i would guess it would be the same for Exton. You buy the tickets on the train form the Conductor.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

My friend told me its only 6.50$ form Downingtown via the Keystone Service to 30th Street station , i would guess it would be the same for Exton. You buy the tickets on the train form the Conductor.

Contrast that to SEPTA: $11.75 round trip, $50.50 weekly Trailpass; $181.00 monthly Trailpass. At first, AMTRAK looks like a good deal. But over a month's time, SEPTA would be the bigger bang for your buck.

I don't know anything about the parking but I wouldn't necessarily count on it getting better at stations further in unless they happened to have expanded their space. I have no idea which stations, if any,where that would be the case.

[bethbabeb]

I took the train into CC a few times from Exton when I used to live there. It really depends on when your husband is going in. Parking is usually fine. It is a long ride, but driving to the other stations isn't really going to change anything - it would just be driving in your car vs. the train.

The one bad thing about the Exton station is that not all R5 trains leaving from Philly will continue past Malvern.

[baseballlluftwaffe]

The Exton station should be fine as long as you can find parking. I have never been there during peak times so I really do not know what it is like getting a parking spot, a lot depends on what time he is leaving. The SEPTA website says that there is a daily availability of 0 at Exton, however the same is said about the Norristown Transportation Center and as long as you get there before 8 there is no problem getting a spot. There are enough trains that continue past Malvern that it is not inconvenient to take the train from Exton. Catching express trains will help a lot, the Great Valley Flyer comes to mind. A disadvatage of taking Amtrak trains would be the fact that they only go to 30th Street Station. I read somewhere before that an Amtrak ticket is valid on any trains that go through to tunnel so in theory he would be able to have a free transfer from the Keystone to any SEPTA regional rail train. The disadvantage of that is it will be two seat ride, albeit a shorter ride. Amtrak apparently has really good rewards programs too.

[solibs]

Amtrak offers discounted monthly passes but you'd have to drive Downingtown or Paoli. The price will still be slightly higher for Amtrak but it's really up to you to balance the comfort and speed with the price and the time spent driving further to catch the train.

[CHIP72]

Originally Posted by solibs

Amtrak offers discounted monthly passes but you'd have to drive Downingtown or Paoli. The price will still be slightly higher for Amtrak but it's really up to you to balance the comfort and speed with the price and the time spent driving further to catch the train.

The Amtrak Keystone trains do stop at the Exton park-and-ride station at US 30 and PA 100.

[solibs]

Originally Posted by CHIP72

The Amtrak Keystone trains do stop at the Exton park-and-ride station at US 30 and PA 100.

Score!

[Duderino]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the Exton station just recently had its parking expanded quite significantly. This has definitely given some more breathing room for commuters, so that is good news for your husband. However, I believe it can be full sometimes even with the extra spaces, in which case the Whitford or Downingtown stations to the west are your next best options; any station to the east of Exton is out of the question in terms of consistent parking availability.

[ExtonTraveler]

Exton is a stop for both amtrak and Septa. Both have good apps for viewing schedules. Currently, only etickets can be purchased for amtrak rides thru the app. Septa riders purchase tickets on train at higher 2$ onboard fee but once you get to cc take your receipt to the ticket office to get the fee credited towards return ticket. Even if you won't use that ticket that day, tickets are good for travel in either direction up to 180 days. Receipt credit only valid up to end of the day. Parking meters at exton station is $1/day up to 9? days. Parking on wkends are free. Parking spaces have numbers and except one lot that is permit parking only. Remember your number to enter in meter located near the rail. Meters accept coins only in nickels, dimes and quarters.