Richard Allen Lane station

Richard Allen Lane station (formerly Allen Lane station) is a SEPTA Regional Rail station in Philadelphia. It is located at 200 West Allens Lane in the Mount Airy neighborhood and serves the Chestnut Hill West Line. The station building was built circa 1880.[3] Like many in Philadelphia, it retains much of its Victorian/Edwardian appearance.

Richard Allen Lane
Allen Lane station during construction of the high-level platforms
General information
Location200 West Allens Lane
Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates40.0575°N 75.1950°W / 40.0575; -75.1950
Owned bySEPTA
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Construction
Platform levels1
Parking6 spaces
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone2
History
Opened1880 (1880)
ElectrifiedMarch 22, 1918 (1918-03-22)[1]
Previous namesAllen Lane (1880–2022)
Passengers
2017310 boardings
307 alightings
(weekday average)[2]
Rank87 of 146
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
St. Martins
toward Chestnut Hill West
 Chestnut Hill West Line Carpenter
toward Temple University
Former services
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
St. Martins
toward Chestnut Hill
 Chestnut Hill Line Carpenter
toward Suburban Station
Germantown Road
toward White Marsh
 Fort Washington Branch

The former station building now houses a coffee shop, the High Point Cafe.

The station is in zone 2 on the Chestnut Hill West Line, on former Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, and is 10.1 track miles from Suburban Station. In fiscal 2012, this station saw 307 boardings on an average weekday.

Naming

Allen Lane station got its name from the adjoining street, Allens Lane, which was named for William Allen, a prominent man of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. His estate, Mount Airy, is the source of the surrounding neighborhood's name, was at the top of the hill where Allens Lane meets Germantown Avenue. The site is now the campus of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

Since at least the 19th century, there has been variation in the lane's name between "Allen", "Allen's", and "Allens". Today, through maps and signage, the names have reached a level of written codification that leaves the lane's name written consistently as "Allens" and the station's name written consistently as "Allen". Colloquially, the Allen/Allen's/Allens variation persists in local speech, such as when train conductors sometimes announce the stop as "Allen's Lane". The "Allen Lane" variation that became the codified station name may have been reinforced by a timetable printer's error—the Pennsylvania Railroad's timetables were printed by the firm of Allen, Lane & Scott.

On February 14, 2022, Allens Lane was re-attributed to Richard Allen, (1760-1831, a minister, educator, writer, and one of America's most active and influential Black leaders) by resolution of the Philadelphia city council, facilitated by the efforts of State Rep. Chris Rabb (PA House 200th). The station was renamed to Richard Allen Lane station.[4]

Restoration and renovation
The Allen Lane station in October 2012 after construction of the high level platforms.

Allen Lane station underwent a two-phase restoration and renovation project in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The first phase of work on the historic station building and shelters was completed in September 1999. The second phase, which included the construction of high level platforms, a rebuilt pedestrian overpass, and accessible ramp, was completed in 2011.

Allen Lane station was featured as a filming location for the 1988 film The In Crowd.

Station layout
G Street level Exit/entrance, parking, overpass
P
Platform level		 Side platform, doors will open on the right Disabled access
Outbound ←      Chestnut Hill West Line toward Chestnut Hill West (St. Martins)
Inbound ←      Chestnut Hill West Line toward Temple University (Carpenter) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right Disabled access

References
  1. "Electric Train Has Trial Trip". The Harrisburg Telegraph. March 23, 1918. p. 10. Retrieved August 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update". SEPTA. June 2020. p. 24. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  3. Allens Lane Station data from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings (PAB) project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia
  4. "Allen Lane Station Renaming".

Media related to Allen Lane (SEPTA station) at Wikimedia Commons

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