TRAVEL TIPS

Train Travel

Philadelphia's beautifully restored 30th Street Station, at 30th and Market streets, is a major stop on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line. The 90-minute Philadelphia–to–New York trip can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 each way, depending on the type of train, class, and when tickets are purchased. Both Amtrak’s Northeast Regional trains and its high-speed Acela line cater to business travelers, and are equipped with conference tables and electrical outlets. You can travel by train between Philadelphia and New York City more cheaply by taking the SEPTA’s Trenton rail line to Trenton, New Jersey, then transferring to a NJ Transit commuter line to Manhattan. The trip takes an extra 30 minutes, but the savings is considerable ($16 to $25.50 each way). Amtrak also serves Philadelphia from points west, including Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.

SEPTA’s network of commuter trains serves both the city and the suburbs. The famous Main Line, a cluster of affluent suburbs, got its start—and its name—from the Pennsylvania Railroad route that ran westward from Center City. SEPTA commuter trains stop at 30th Street Station and connect to Suburban Station (16th Street and JFK Boulevard, near major hotels), and Jefferson Station (10th and Market streets), which is close to historic Old City. Fares, which vary according to route and time of travel, range from $3.75 to $10 each way. These trains are your best bet for reaching neighborhoods to the northwest, like Germantown and Chestnut Hill, as well as numerous suburbs.

The PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) High Speed Line trains run underground, from 16th and Locust streets to Lindenwold, New Jersey. Trains stop at 12th and Locust, 9th and Locust, 8th and Market, and City Hall, then continue across the Delaware River to Camden. It's one way to get to the Adventure Aquarium or the Susquehanna Bank Center; round-trip fares range from $2.80 to $6.

Contacts

Amtrak. 800/872–7245; www.amtrak.com.

New Jersey Transit. 973/275–5555; www.njtransit.com.

Port Authority Transit Corporation. 215/922–4600; www.ridepatco.org.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. 215/580–7800; www.septa.org.

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