History UsefulNotes / PhiladelphiaSubways

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system (indeed, both run on old Pennsylvania Railroad track: the PATH on the former Hudson and Manhattan, and the PATCO on the former Camden and Atlantic City), stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones (including [[{{Gangsterland}} Newark]]). It features the other "ghost station" in Philly, at Franklin Square. (There's been some talk of restoring it; a plan was floated in 2012, dropped, and then suddenly taken up again in late 2014, but no action has of yet been taken.) It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency, and the cars are getting a thorough refurbishment which should be complete by the end of 2015.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

* '''Underground but not rapid transit''': The '''Subway-Surface Trolley Lines''', sometimes called the '''Green Line(s)''', are single-car tram lines running underground parallel to the MFL under Market Street starting at Juniper Street immediately east of Broad (Juniper is sort of 13 1/2 Street) and then diverging at 30th Street to various points in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system (indeed, both run on old Pennsylvania Railroad track: the PATH on the former Hudson and Manhattan, and the PATCO on the former Camden and Atlantic City), stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones (including [[{{Gangsterland}} Newark]]). It features the other "ghost station" in Philly, at Franklin Square. (There's been some talk of restoring it, but although a plan was floated in 2012, no money has appeared to fund it.) It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency, and the cars are getting a thorough refurbishment which should be complete by the end of 2015.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

As to the experience of riding: SEPTA stations are oddly variable. Some stations (e.g. 13th Street on the MFL) are quite decent (although nowhere near as antiseptic as the UsefulNotes/WashingtonMetro), while others (e.g. 8th Street and 2nd Street) are mediocre, and still others (e.g. 15th Street and many stations on the Broad Street Line) give New York a run for its money on the "vaguely squalid" front. The underground PATCO stations in the city and in [[WretchedHive Camden]] vary from "moderately dirty" to "hobo piss," while the elevated stations further east in the South Jersey {{Suburbia}} are in "quite clean, but a bit old and worn-down" territory.[[note]]Exception: Haddonfield--yes, ''[[Franchise/{{Halloween}} that]]'' Haddonfield, never mind the movie being set in Illinois--where the station is actually quite nice. Aggressively nice, in fact.[[/note]]

-->''*69th Street train making all stops...Doors are closing*''

As of a change in October 2014, SEPTA's rapid transit trains run from about 5:30 AM until about 12:30 AM during the week and 24 hours on the weekend (i.e the trains run continuously from 5:30AM opening on Friday until 12:30AM closing on Saturday night/Monday morning). The PATCO remains, like the PATH, open 24/7, albeit with ''very'' infrequent trains after about 2:30 AM.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly if you're in an area served by them. The system is relatively safe (major crime on the trains is rare, minor crime is frequent but merely annoying, and you ''will'' be harassed by homeless wherever you go--but that's true of anywhere in Philly anyway), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''[[DrivesLikeCrazy terrifying]]''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

*** The '''Broad-Ridge Spur''' is a short spur of the line running from Fairmount to 8th & Market via Chinatown. It's definitely seen better days...

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system (indeed, both run on old Pennsylvania Railroad track: the PATH on the former Hudson and Manhattan, and the PATCO on the former Camden and Atlantic City), stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones (including [[{{Gangsterland}} Newark]]). It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency, and the cars are getting a thorough refurbishment which should be complete by the end of 2015.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

SEPTA's rapid transit trains generally close shortly after midnight, and are replaced (dubiously) by bus services. Generally, because SEPTA, responsive to murmurings and seeing the success of a somewhat similar schedule on the Washington Metro, is running a pilot project in June-November 2014 where the MFL and BSS run 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, because bars and people staying out late. The PATCO remains, like the PATH, open 24/7, albeit with ''very'' infrequent trains after about 2:30 AM.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly if you're in an area served by them. The system is relatively safe (major crime on the trains is rare, minor crime is frequent but merely annoying, and you ''will'' be harassed by homeless wherever you go), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''[[DrivesLikeCrazy terrifying]]''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

SEPTA's rapid transit trains generally close shortly after midnight, and are replaced (dubiously) by bus services. Generally, because SEPTA, responsive to murmurings and seeing the success of a somewhat similar schedule on the Washington Metro, is running a pilot project in June-September 2014 where the MFL and BSS run 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, because bars and people staying out late. The PATCO remains, like the PATH, open 24/7, albeit with ''very'' infrequent trains after about 2:30 AM.

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system, stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones (including [[{{Gangsterland}} Newark]]). It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency, and the cars are getting a thorough refurbishment which should be complete by the end of 2015.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system, stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones. It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency, and the cars are getting a thorough refurbishment which should be complete by the end of 2015.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

** The '''PATCO High-Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system, stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones. It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

SEPTA's rapid transit trains close shortly after midnight, and are replaced (dubiously) by bus services. The PATCO remains, like the PATH, open 24/7, albeit with ''very'' infrequent trains after about 2:30 AM.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly if you're in an area served by them. The system is relatively safe (major crime on the trains is rare, minor crime is frequent, and you ''will'' be harassed by homeless wherever you go), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''[[DrivesLikeCrazy terrifying]]''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

** The '''Market-Frankford Line''', sometimes called the Blue Line, called the MFL for short, is a line [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin largely running as an elevated train along Frankford Avenue and as a subway under most of Market Street]], Philadelphia's main east-west thoroughfare. The MFL runs from 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby to Frankford Transportation Center in the Frankford neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. This train's history is rather odd, and has a number of quirks (e.g.: it's built to Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge, a broad gauge invented in the 19th century to keep railroads from competing with streetcars). It meets the BSS at 15th Street/City Hall (Broad and Market never truly meet, just turn into Penn Square, a giant traffic circle around City Hall; also, Broad is 14th Street), and there's free transfer between them there.
** The '''PATCO Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system, stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs--including [[{{Gangsterland}} Camden]]--much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones. It also hasn't seen an upgrade in its rolling stock in years; the trains were mostly built in TheSixties, and you can tell from everything from the exterior styling to the interior decor (if that's the right word).[[note]]It's not ''quite'' so bad as all that, though; the actual motors get repaired or upgraded with reasonable frequency.[[/note]] In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly if you're in an area served by them. The system is quite safe (crime on the trains is rare, and on the rare occasions it happens it always makes the local news), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''[[DrivesLikeCrazy terrifying]]''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly if you're in an area served by them. The system is quite safe (crime on the trains is rare, and on the rare occasions it happens it always makes the local news), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''terrifying''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

As to the experience of riding: SEPTA stations are oddly variable. Some stations (e.g. 13th Street on the MFL) are quite decent (although nowhere near as antiseptic as the UsefulNotes/WashingtonMetro), while others (e.g. 8th Street and 2nd Street) are mediocre, and still others (e.g. 15th Street and many stations on the Broad Street Line) give New York a run for its money on the "vaguely squalid" front. The underground PATCO stations in the city and in [[WretchedHive Camden]] vary from "moderately dirty" to "hobo piss," while the elevated stations further east in the South Jersey {{Suburbia}} are in "quite clean, but a bit old and worn-down" territory.

** The '''Market-Frankford Line''', sometimes called the Blue Line, called the MFL for short, is a line [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin largely running as an elevated train along Frankford Avenue and as a subway under most of Market Street]]. The MFL runs from 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby to Frankford Transportation Center in the Frankford neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. This train's history is rather odd, and has a number of quirks (e.g.: it's built to Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge, a broad gauge invented in the 19th century to keep railroads from competing with streetcars). It meets the BSS at 15th Street/City Hall (Broad and Market never truly meet, just turn into Penn Square, a giant traffic circle around City Hall; also, Broad is 14th Street), and there's free transfer between them there.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly. The system is quite safe (crime on the trains is rare, and on the rare occasions it happens it always makes the local news), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''terrifying''). And of course, if you do drive in Philly, you face something much worse than driving: ''parking''--the Philadelphia Parking Authority are so dogged in their insistence on enforcing the parking laws they put InspectorJavert to shame.

All snarking aside, these routes really are probably the best way to get around Philly. The system is quite safe (crime on the trains is rare, and on the rare occasions it happens it always makes the local news), it's actually pretty efficient, and driving in Philadelphia can be a ''nightmare'' (to wit, Philadelphia has: one-way streets, ''narrow'' streets, even a few cobblestone streets--in the Old City--plus Philadelphia drivers--who are scary--and New Jersey drivers--who are ''terrifying'').

As to the experience of riding: SEPTA stations are oddly variable. Some stations (e.g. 13th Street on the MFL) are quite decent (although nowhere near as antiseptic as the UsefulNotes/WashingtonMetro), while others (e.g. 8th Street and 2nd Street) are mediocre, and still others (e.g. 15th Street and many stations on the Broad Street Line) give New York a run for its money on the "vaguely squalid" front. The underground PATCO stations in the city and in [[WretchedHive Camden]] vary from "moderately dirty" to "hobo piss," while the elevated stations further east in the South Jersey {{Suburbia}} are in "reasonably clean, but a bit old and worn-down" territory

** The '''PATCO Speedline''', or simply the PATCO, is not run by SEPTA, but rather by the Delaware River Port Authority; PATCO stands for "Port Authority Transit Corporation." This line is akin to the UsefulNotes/PortAuthorityTransHudson in that it is basically a rapid transit system but it also operates a bit like a commuter rail system, stopping at various towns in Philadelphia's [[UsefulNotes/NewJersey South Jersey]] suburbs much as the PATH goes to New York's North Jersey ones. In the city, it goes under Vine Street from the Ben Franklin Bridge and then under 8th Street before turning west at Locust Street and terminating at 16th Street. It meets the MFL and Broad-Ridge Spur at 8th & Market and the BSS via a pedestrian tunnel that connects the BSS Walnut-Locust Station to 15th/16th and 12/13th Stations, but since the payment systems are totally separate there is no free transfer.

As to the experience of riding: SEPTA stations are oddly variable. Some stations (e.g. 13th Street on the MFL) are quite decent (although nowhere near as antiseptic as the UsefulNotes/WashingtonMetro), while others (e.g. 8th Street and 2nd Street) are mediocre, and still others (e.g. 15th Street and many stations on the Broad Street Line) give New York a run for its money on the "vaguely squalid" front. The underground PATCO stations in the city and in [[WretchedHive Camden]] vary from "moderately dirty" to "hobo piss," while the elevated stations further east in the South Jersey {{Suburbia}} are "reasonably clean, but a bit old and worn-down."

* '''Underground but not rapid transit''': The '''Subway-Surface Lines''', sometimes called the '''Green Line(s)''', are single-car tram lines running underground parallel to the MFL under Market Street starting at Juniper Street immediately east of Broad (Juniper is sort of 13 1/2 Street) and then diverging at 30th Street to various points in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

There's also SEPTA's Regional Rail system. These are too numerous to describe in one go, but suffice it to say that several parts of the City of Philadelphia are served only by the regional rail, particularly the Northwest (which is, to be fair, essentially suburban anyway), and the Northeast (which is less so). Three Regional Rail lines (Chestnut Hill East, Chestnut Hill West, and Fox Chase) run entirely within the city, leading several to wonder why they should continue to be treated as regional rail. (There are good technical reasons, but the only barrier to those is a little bit of money.)

** '''Underground but not rapid transit''': The '''Subway-Surface Lines''', sometimes called the '''Green Line(s)''', are single-car tram lines running underground parallel to the MFL under Market Street starting at Juniper Street immediately east of Broad (Juniper is sort of 13 1/2 Street) and then diverging at 30th Street to various points in West and Southwest Philadelphia.