26 replies to this topic

[PRR 60]

I’ll start this topic as a place to post Philadelphia area rail and transportation news and information. In order to make the stories clearer for those not familiar with the nuances of Philly transit, here is a quick primer showing the names of the various operating agencies, and who runs what services:

Amtrak:

Northeast Corridor & long distance services
Keystone Service – unreserved, state-funded service between Philadelphia and the state capital, Harrisburg, with various intermediate stops. With low fares and no advance reservations required, Keystone trains are favorites for low-cost “Points Runs” for Philly AGR members (like me).

SEPTA:

Rail: Commuter rail service between center city and various suburban Pennsylvania destinations, along with service to northern Delaware and Trenton and West Trenton in New Jersey
Transit: Subway, elevated, trolley and bus service in the city and suburban counties in Pennsylvania (a couple of bus lines terminate in NJ and DE).

NJ Transit:

Atlantic City Line: commuter rail service between 30th Street Station and Atlantic City with several local NJ stops.
NEC: Service from Philadelphia to Newark and New York using SEPTA to Trenton connecting there to NJ Transit NEC trains. This connection, which is much cheaper than Amtrak but takes over an hour longer, is lovingly called the "Trenton Shuffle."
River LINE: Diesel-powered, light rail line between Camden NJ and Trenton with stops at towns along the Delaware River.
Bus: Bus service from center city Philadelphia to suburban New Jersey locations and the southern New Jersey shore towns.

PATCO (Lindenwold High Speed Line):

A subsidiary of the Delaware River Port Authority, PATCO operates a heavy rail transit line between center city Philadelphia and suburban New Jersey communities. Connection may be made between PATCO and the NJ Transit River LINE at Broadway (Camden) and the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line at Lindenwold.

Edited by PRR 60, 24 February 2012 - 04:42 PM.

[PRR 60]

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/24/2012:

New SEPTA system aimed at preventing train collisions

SEPTA will spend $100 million for a new, federally mandated train-control system designed to prevent the kind of collision that killed 25 people and injured more than 130 in Los Angeles in 2008. The new system must be installed by Dec. 31, 2015, under current federal law. The system will be designed to automatically halt trains if engineers do not heed stop signals. SEPTA officials said the cost would mean canceling or delaying many other transit projects in the Philadelphia region.

The full story is HERE.

[Acela150]

I'm a prime offender of doing quick runs to PAO on the Keystone Corridor. Actually did an unscheduled last minute one tonight on 649. Unreserved is put to it's use on this train. At least on Friday's.. 4:45PM departure from PHL to HAR and it was Standing room only in the Cab Car.. The train was in push and the conductors discharge/receive passengers from the first two leading cars normally.

One thing about Septa that has been a great ordeal over the past 3 years is the receiving of 120 New Silverliner V cars built by Hyundai Rotem.. Most Philadelphia rail fans are not happy about the builder choice and the Stories that have come out about the Factory are nightmarish.. Stories of racism, workers living off of food stamps, no benefits, and MORE!!. While these cars are amazing the stories that are flying around I tend to think will make Railroads think twice about Hyundai Rotem.. The project is about 2 and half to 3 years off the time that was promised. If you get a chance to ride the Silverliner V's when in Philly ride them and see what you think! Septa for a long about two years had a "Silverliner V Service Schedule" on there website. Which was replaced by "Introduction to the Silverliner V" this week. I asked Septa in an e-mail if this was the end of the online schedule and it is. So from now on it's random runnings of the SL V's and it's about time!

[Train2104]

I am going to give an explanation of SEPTA's RIDICULOUSLY complex fare system.

Single fares:
Bus, subway, trolley, NHSL:


-Cash fare $2
-Tokens $1.55, available only at certain locations and in packs of 2, 5, or 10. (most, but not all subway stations included)
-If your trip crosses a zone boundary, there is a surcharge of 50 cents.
-Transfer $1 (for subway, buy at "cashier booth")
-Seniors ride free.
-Disabled passengers pay half fare.


Regional Rail: See zone map


-Weekday tickets are valid at all times and cost between $4 and $6.25 (zones 1-5) or $8.75 (zone 6) when purchased in advance, $4-$7 ($10) when purchased onboard
-Evening/weekend tickets are valid on weekdays after 7PM and on Sat/Sun/Hol, $3.75-$4.75 in advance, $4-$6 onboard
-Advanced purchase round trip discount applies for zones 1-5
-No evening/weekend discount for zone 6 passengers
-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)
-You can exchange your receipt in Center City for a return ticket, pay the difference between the advanced round trip price and what you paid on board
-Travel outside of Center City less than two zones costs $3.25, more than 2 zones $3.75
-Travel via Center City has discounted rates, range from $5.50 to $9.50 ($6-$10 onboard)
-Seniors ride for $1 within PA
-Disabled passengers pay half fare (same for senior trips to/from DE and NJ)

Passes:
-TransPass: $22 a week, $83 a month. Valid for unlimited one zone subway, bus, trolley, NHSL, and the Airport Line of Regional Rail. Zone surcharges are as normal.
-TrailPass: valid for unlimited regional rail travel for the given zone, and subway/bus/trolley/NHSL for the given number of zones. ($24.25-$53 a week, $91-$191 a month) Special permissions: Zone 1 valid for Zone 2 during off peak hours, Zone 3-4 valid anywhere during off peak hours, ALL PASSES (including TransPass) valid anywhere on weekends
-Cross County $103 a month unlimited travel OUTSIDE of Philly
-Intermediate $75 a month valid for regional rail less than two zones
-Independence Pass $11 individual, $28 family, unlimited rides except Regional Rail before 9:30AM, $5 ($15) surcharge per trip to/from NJ
-Convenience Pass: $7 for 8 subway/bus/trolley/NHSL rides in a day

PATCO fares are distance-based, no unlimited passes available (like BART). Discounted SEPTA transfers available from NJ stations.

[benjibear]

When buying subway tokens, I have never found a pleasant worker in the 30th street subway station. I wish SEPTA would go to a card system so you don't have to deal with the workers!

[AlanB]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

[Alice]

Per SEPTA website, senior rate requires Medicare card or PA transit ID card, depending on the part of the system. Disabled rate is either all the time or off-peak only (depending on part of system) and requires PA transit ID card (3 weeks to evaluate and process).

[Acela150]

When buying subway tokens, I have never found a pleasant worker in the 30th street subway station. I wish SEPTA would go to a card system so you don't have to deal with the workers!

Septa is currently in the process of that. Go on their website and click New Payment Technologies. RFP's for it went out a few months ago.

[Acela150]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

It used to be that septa would charge $2 if their was a ticket office at the station and a ticket office was open. But now it's not enforced unless Septa scrapped the policy in general. Now I'm sure with the NPT's this will change and TVM's will be installed.

[Train2104]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

That's why they created the fare credit for round trip thing, which I don't think is that well publicized.

Example: Exton to Philly on a weekday costs $6.25, but $7 on board. You pay the $7, then exchange it at the ticket office for your return trip ticket, which costs you ($12.25 - $7) which is $5.25.

It used to be that septa would charge $2 if their was a ticket office at the station and a ticket office was open. But now it's not enforced unless Septa scrapped the policy in general. Now I'm sure with the NPT's this will change and TVM's will be installed.

I doubt it, SEPTA is doing everything they can to avoid putting TVM's at all outlying stations. Their proposal is to install turnstiles at downtown stations, then let people ride in for free and pay double on the way out.

But lets not make this an NPT discussion thread please!

Edited by Train2104, 26 February 2012 - 08:42 PM.

[AlanB]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

That's why they created the fare credit for round trip thing, which I don't think is that well publicized.

Example: Exton to Philly on a weekday costs $6.25, but $7 on board. You pay the $7, then exchange it at the ticket office for your return trip ticket, which costs you ($12.25 - $7) which is $5.25.

And that's semi-OK in my book if you're making a round trip, although still a pain as one must make the effort to visit with a ticket agent now in Center City.

But it is totally useless if one is only going one way. For example two years ago I took my Mom with me on the Cardinal upon our return from the St. Louis Gathering. The Card ran so late that we would have missed the last bus from NYC to get her back home to PA. So instead I had her get off in Philly and take SEPTA out to Lansdale, where my sister picked her up to get her back to her car in Allentown.

The SEPTA office at 30th was closed at that hour. So not only did she not get her senior discount, but she was forced to pay a penalty for something that is SEPTA's fault. They chose not to pay someone to keep that ticket office open, yet still think its fair to charge the penalty surcharge for buying tickets on the train.

There is simply no reason for that. No other system does it; so there isn't a good reason for SEPTA to do it!

[PRR 60]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

That's why they created the fare credit for round trip thing, which I don't think is that well publicized.

Example: Exton to Philly on a weekday costs $6.25, but $7 on board. You pay the $7, then exchange it at the ticket office for your return trip ticket, which costs you ($12.25 - $7) which is $5.25.

And that's semi-OK in my book if you're making a round trip, although still a pain as one must make the effort to visit with a ticket agent now in Center City.

But it is totally useless if one is only going one way. For example two years ago I took my Mom with me on the Cardinal upon our return from the St. Louis Gathering. The Card ran so late that we would have missed the last bus from NYC to get her back home to PA. So instead I had her get off in Philly and take SEPTA out to Lansdale, where my sister picked her up to get her back to her car in Allentown.

The SEPTA office at 30th was closed at that hour. So not only did she not get her senior discount, but she was forced to pay a penalty for something that is SEPTA's fault. They chose not to pay someone to keep that ticket office open, yet still think its fair to charge the penalty surcharge for buying tickets on the train.

There is simply no reason for that. No other system does it; so there isn't a good reason for SEPTA to do it!

SEPTA nuanced it by changing the language. Now, you are not paying a penalty for buying on board. You are getting a discount for buying from an agent ahead of time. No agent, no discount, so you pay on board what SEPTA now calls the regular fare. Sounds like lawyer talk.

[Acela150]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

That's why they created the fare credit for round trip thing, which I don't think is that well publicized.

Example: Exton to Philly on a weekday costs $6.25, but $7 on board. You pay the $7, then exchange it at the ticket office for your return trip ticket, which costs you ($12.25 - $7) which is $5.25.

And that's semi-OK in my book if you're making a round trip, although still a pain as one must make the effort to visit with a ticket agent now in Center City.

But it is totally useless if one is only going one way. For example two years ago I took my Mom with me on the Cardinal upon our return from the St. Louis Gathering. The Card ran so late that we would have missed the last bus from NYC to get her back home to PA. So instead I had her get off in Philly and take SEPTA out to Lansdale, where my sister picked her up to get her back to her car in Allentown.

The SEPTA office at 30th was closed at that hour. So not only did she not get her senior discount, but she was forced to pay a penalty for something that is SEPTA's fault. They chose not to pay someone to keep that ticket office open, yet still think its fair to charge the penalty surcharge for buying tickets on the train.

There is simply no reason for that. No other system does it; so there isn't a good reason for SEPTA to do it!

Alan it sounds like the conductor dropped the ball on this one. The fee applies only if a ticket office is open. If it's closed then the fee didn't apply. Also Seniors don't get the fee. They always get the $1 fare. No matter what. That's what the ticket agents have told me.

[Anderson]

Just for the record, since it keeps showing up as a thread, when I see the title and caps, I keep wondering if SEPTA has been renamed PhART.

[PRR 60]

-Onboard fare applies regardless of whether or not the station has ticket offices (no vending machines on SEPTA RRD)

Something that has long been a pet peeve of mine and is grossly unfair!

I don't object to charging people more if they're lazy and don't want to visit with an agent/TVM prior to boarding. But when one has no choice but to buy from the conductor it is unfair to charge that service charge. SEPTA is the only agency that I know of that does this. All other agencies allow for waiving the surcharge if the station is closed and there is no TVM.

On the other hand, if one is doing a round trip and you're not headed inbound during the morning rush, you can avoid the surcharge by buying the Independence pass which in many cases would work out cheaper than a round trip fare with penalty.

That's why they created the fare credit for round trip thing, which I don't think is that well publicized.

Example: Exton to Philly on a weekday costs $6.25, but $7 on board. You pay the $7, then exchange it at the ticket office for your return trip ticket, which costs you ($12.25 - $7) which is $5.25.

And that's semi-OK in my book if you're making a round trip, although still a pain as one must make the effort to visit with a ticket agent now in Center City.

But it is totally useless if one is only going one way. For example two years ago I took my Mom with me on the Cardinal upon our return from the St. Louis Gathering. The Card ran so late that we would have missed the last bus from NYC to get her back home to PA. So instead I had her get off in Philly and take SEPTA out to Lansdale, where my sister picked her up to get her back to her car in Allentown.

The SEPTA office at 30th was closed at that hour. So not only did she not get her senior discount, but she was forced to pay a penalty for something that is SEPTA's fault. They chose not to pay someone to keep that ticket office open, yet still think its fair to charge the penalty surcharge for buying tickets on the train.

There is simply no reason for that. No other system does it; so there isn't a good reason for SEPTA to do it!

Alan it sounds like the conductor dropped the ball on this one. The fee applies only if a ticket office is open. If it's closed then the fee didn't apply. Also Seniors don't get the fee. They always get the $1 fare. No matter what. That's what the ticket agents have told me.

There is no penalty or fee for buying tickets on the train. On board purchase pays the regular, base price fare. If you buy tickets before boarding, you get a discounted fare. If there is no ticket office, or if the office is closed, you still pay the regular, base price fare on board. You are not offered the pre-purchase, discounted fare just because there is no ticket office. I know that is just semantics, but that is how the tariff is worded.

From SEPTA:

A purchased Regional Rail ticket saves money over the base price. Any ticket purchased from a train conductor will be at the higher price, regardless of whether or not a station ticket office is open or closed.

[PRR 60]

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/22/2012:

SEPTA Cops Walk Off the Job

SEPTA'S 219 unionized transit cops went on strike at 2 p.m. Wednesday, just 20 minutes after their final offer was rejected at a bargaining session.

SEPTA declined to discuss numbers, but Richard Neal Jr., president of the Fraternal Order of Transit Police, said his union was striking over a "measly" 50-cent hourly raise for mandatory recertification training required of all police officers

The full story is HERE.

And, an updated report from NBC10 (Philadelphia):

SEPTA transit police officers walked the picket lines on day two of their strike. About 200 officers were off the job Thursday after working without a contract for nearly a year. Officers waited for word from SEPTA management as they walked the picket line outside the Market Street. Currently no talks were scheduled as of Thursday afternoon.

That story is HERE.

[PRR 60]

The Porch at 30th Street Station is a new, outdoor space located between the south side of the Amtrak station building and Market Street. The area was recently rebuilt as part of a PennDOT project. What had been a wasted area with multiple roadways, parking, and narrow dividers, was transformed into a wide outdoor plaza with plantings and numerous tables and chairs under umbrellas. The 30th Street Station food court is just inside the building, so on a nice day it's a great place to sit, have a sandwich, something to drink, and enjoy the environs. During weekday lunch time, the Porch hosts some entertainment and activities. The Porch is run by the University City District, a group of businesses and organizations located in the area.

Here is a link to a site describing The Porch, with photos, and some of the activities taking place this spring.

The Porch

Edited by PRR 60, 08 April 2012 - 11:08 AM.

[Railroad Bill]

Looks like a very nice place. Hope the weather is great in October so that we might use it during the Gathering.

[Acela150]

"The Porch" was just finished a few months back.. It's a great thing for this time of year. Many of us Philadelphians love to eat our lunch or dinners outside on a nice day. In fact one of my favorite places to eat in Northern Liberties Called "the North Third" on North Third Street has outdoor seating.. Many places do.

Edited by Acela150, 09 April 2012 - 01:04 AM.

[Dave H]

A nice attraction in Philly is the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive at the Franklin Institute.