Philadelphia to Villanova (Norristown, Paoli, Thorndale: university, living in, buses)

[CityQuestion33]

Hello, I am contemplating a position at Villanova University but really enjoy living in a city and want to live in Philadelphia. Is it possible to do this without too much of a headache? I am accustomed to public transportation after living in Chicago for years so that won't be a problem; I'm just trying to figure out how long the distance will be and if it's possible to do day in and day out. Thanks much!

[maf763]

Easy. There's a regional rail stop right on the campus, 30 minutes give or take from Center City.

[PhillyViaBoston]

I agree, it's definitely a doable daily commute. You would want to take the Paoli/Thorndale regional rail line to Villanova station from Center City Philadelphia, getting on at either Market East (11th & Market), Suburban (16th & JFK) or 30th Street (30th & Market) Stations. It's a popular route (though more so in reverse) and pretty reliable.

Here's the SEPTA regional rail map:
SEPTA | Clickable Regional Rail & Rail Transit Map

Here's the Paoli/Thorndale schedule:
http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/pdf/tho.pdf

[CityQuestion33]

thanks very much for the above responses

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by maf763

Easy. There's a regional rail stop right on the campus, 30 minutes give or take from Center City.

This. Another possibility is taking the Market-Frankford Line to the Norristown High Speed Line. Both will get you where you need to go.

[PhillyViaBoston]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

This. Another possibility is taking the Market-Frankford Line to the Norristown High Speed Line. Both will get you where you need to go.

And, just for completeness, you could also switch to Bus Route 105 or 106 (towards Paoli) after taking the Market-Frankford line from Center City to 69th St Terminal.

The SEPTA web site provides a pretty comprehensive list of options. Use the clickable map and select the station where you would like to arrive. It gives you a suggested route from Center City, then a couple/few additional options.

Here's a link to the Villanova station detail:
SEPTA | Villanova Station

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

This. Another possibility is taking the Market-Frankford Line to the Norristown High Speed Line. Both will get you where you need to go.

This way might be cheaper. However, either method works. Good luck.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

This way might be cheaper. However, either method works. Good luck.

For sure, and I wasn't necessarily recommending one over the other. It really depends on where in the city you want to live.

[Ms_Christina]

It's good to have 3-4 ways to get to work just in case. Buses break down, trains have track problems. But Philly to Villanova is super easy. Lots of ways to get to and from with public transportation. You can even get a cab if you are desperate.

[CityQuestion33]

I really appreciate all the recommendations. Thanks for everyone's help