How To Travel For FREE In Pittsburgh / Light Rail Train (The T)

While researching for my Pittsburgh trip, I discovered that the Steel City
has a subway / Light Rail transportation system. It's known as the "T" and believe it or not, you can actually ride it for free. So in this video we are going to cover some of the history of this rail line and take a ride in the "free zone". Six stops within the downtown area that you can ride for free as often as you'd like. Although for most people, this is just a mode of transportation, but for me, I find it very interesting and enjoyable to ride and film. Are you ready to ride the "T"? If so, come along with me! Enjoy
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#JPVideos

[@john-ic9vj]

FYI the buses no longer run in a free zone, you now pay as soon as you get on no matter where you are. The T still runs the "old" way, where the city is free and past that, you pay getting on when inbound, pay when getting off outbound.

[@stacey4051]

JP thanks for showing everyone the Steel City of Pittsburgh, PA. You did a good video of it. I couldn't of done it any better. 😊👍👍 Glad that you and your family enjoyed Steel City. Now you know why I love it so much.

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks stacey. Ill be back soon.

[@jraoul711]

That's very unusual to have a free subway system. Definitely a bonus for tourists.

[@JPVideos81]

I was shocked to learn about it

[@eyebleached]

Not only that, but it’s very modern- clean AND fast. Not crowded either!

[@gfh110]

I go to Pittsburgh 3-4 times a year and never knew about this. Something to look forward to next time!

[@LSa-rk7zb]

Hello from Paris, just been told about the T ! I love all subways, metros and now the T !!!

[@himbourbanist]

I love Pittsburgh's Light Rail, it's a good little system. Pittsburgh has really unique geography and unique systems of transit to match.

[@donnaj5464]

Great video JP, it’s So strange to see the subway and the subway stations empty because I used to work downtown and lived in the South Hills and I took the T in every day and I had to stand because it was so crowded, it’s so empty now because of the pandemic, people are not working downtown at the moment, they’re still working from home! Loved the video!!

[@cynthiacleaver9742]

That was a fun trip!! I’ve never ridden the subway and would probably be lost quickly, so I’m glad you took the lead!! Amazing that it’s free!! Thanks for taking us along!!! Cool ride!!! 💖💙💖💙💖💙

[@JPVideos81]

It's not too bad once you ride it a few times.

[@coldwindblowing]

LOVE your channel. From Brazil.

[@gracefulcat68]

cool to know pittsburgh has this! the trainer guys vest has 'service animal' on it.. made me lol. thanks for the videos!

[@JPVideos81]

😁

[@barbara-pigeonbray4579]

I cannot imagine how you build a tunnel under a river . Baffles my brain ... Was surprised that there were not more passengers on the trains . Always fun to share your adventures and learn something at the same time ...thanks for taking us along : }

[@martyjones9374]

@Barbara-PigeonBray Just saying Hi!😊

[@barbara-pigeonbray4579]

@@martyjones9374 Hi, ....hope y'all are having a good week .Dana got a new phone today and is very happy LOL.

[@martyjones9374]

@@barbara-pigeonbray4579 Aww, Dana ❤

[@JPVideos81]

Some locals I talked to said prior to the pandemic, it was hard to find a seat on one. They used to hook up two trains together 4 in total length to accommodate the riders.

[@johncanetta6708]

Few passengers, maybe because he was riding in mid afternoon

[@gaylebrodt676]

What an awesome adventure for you and very interesting. The Steel Plaza Station is huge and looks very nice and clean. Not very many people around taking the subway though, which was good for your filming. I sure enjoyed this so much and what a great experience. Thank you so much JP!

[@dconfused9919]

He should have showed the signs.

[@tarareads23]

This was so great to watch. Too bad every major city or even some smaller cities and bigger towns don’t have a free system like this. Thanks for sharing, JP!

[@JPVideos81]

I wish they did. I'd be doing videos on them haha

[@rockon8174]

Calgary has free train rides for the downtown core.

[@sjbraze]

Haha before you said it I was like ...I didn't know Pittsburgh had subways

[@JPVideos81]

😁

[@Rbyrd77]

Great stuff as always JP. Thanks for all that you do !

[@JPVideos81]

My pleasure

[@SebisRandomTech]

Great video! I live south of the city so I ride the T all the time. If you ever get the chance to explore the rest of the network I highly recommend it - I like getting a day pass ($7 for unlimited rides all day on the trains, buses, and incline) if I know I’m going to be riding around a lot. There are 3 lines that head into the South Hills running to two different termini. The Red Line has a small section that runs on streets in Beechview, it runs through Beechview, Dormont, and Mount Lebanon while the Blue/Silver Lines run through Overbrook. They meet back up in Castle Shannon and run together into Bethel Park before splitting back off at Washington Junction. The Blue and Red Lines run to South Hills Village (a popular shopping mall and also where the railyard for the vehicles is located), and the Silver Line splits off to run through Bethel Park to Library near the county line. The outer stretch of the Silver Line is also the last active portion of the network that uses original Pittsburgh Railways infrastructure, with jointed rail track and original wayside signals. It’s a very scenic trip too as the route is heavily wooded and mostly secluded from development. There is an additional line that runs on streets over Mount Washington, bypassing Station Square, referred to as the Allentown Line. It isn’t normally used anymore but any time they’re doing track work or there’s a disabled vehicle in the Mount Washington tunnel they will reactivate the line to use as a bypass. As someone else pointed out there are also extra tracks that split off at Steel Plaza to run to the Amtrak station, but these also normally aren’t used. Port Authority is thinking about restoring passenger service on both of those stretches in the near future. Beyond South Hills Village track continues for an extra mile and a half to Drake Road, service on that stretch ended in 1999. Beyond there and Library the lines used to continue further south as interurban streetcars to Washington PA and Charleroi, they were cut back to the current ends in 1953. Many Port Authority bus routes and some regional buses (Freedom Transit’s Metro Commuter and Mid-Mon Valley Transit’s Commuter A) basically follow the old streetcar routes, and in some cases still have the same route number and destination as the streetcar route it replaced (like the 39 Brookline, 44 Knoxville, and 48 Arlington). Unfortunately there is no longer a free-fare zone for buses in town, as the buses use a pay-as-you-get-on policy regardless of which direction you’re traveling, so as of 2021 the free fare zone is only for the T. Let me know if there’s any other info you want to hear about! I have some extensive footage of the light rail lines outside of downtown Pittsburgh on my side channel, Sebi’s Random Stuff.

[@JPVideos81]

I actually did the full ride on silver & red. Keep on the lookout for that video.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@JPVideos81 Awesome! I look forward to it!

[@dr.leonardhofstadtersavage6413]

The steel Plaza Station looks nice, first i ever seen an underground rail station. Great video JP👍👍👍

[@JPVideos81]

Its quite impressive

[@dr.leonardhofstadtersavage6413]

@@JPVideos81 it really is, nice to have a place to eat. At a rail station, must have been packed before the pandemic.

[@transitschuykill]

@@dr.leonardhofstadtersavage6413 not really i never saw anyone eat or get coffee there

[@UrbanKiwiana]

Good Afternoon Jp I think you filmed this very well not easy with dark subways and fully litten up carts..I really enjoyed the journey..it's awesome that this option is in this city, our big city's need such but everything costs money here no free rides in New Zealand think we need the money 😅.. thank you for the great photos and ride along..

[@JPVideos81]

Very surprising that it's for free and I wish more cities had transportation like this.

[@UrbanKiwiana]

@@JPVideos81 +Good morning Mate isn't that the truth I don't know why either but it was a fantastic ride,.I use to sit on the train or even busses just to see where they went then get off at the end,.good times

[@KenyonKarl]

I rode the south hills trolley lines in the mid-1960's Primarily the line to Castle Shannon and Drake but also the 32/46 line to Mt. Lebanon. Back then they rsn PCC streetcars on all of the lines although the cars to Drake and Library were modified SLIGHTLY. Note every station still has a low-level platform as the PCC cars couldn't handle the high level platforms. Conversely every modern two-car set has a street-level door at each right-front corner for low-level platforms and on-street stops. There was a period when both the old PCC cars and the new articulaed cars were operating!

[@JosephPratt1986]

Fantastic video! The "T" line that goes through Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore is fun to ride on.

[@pghskin]

Great video! Thank you for making it. I live about 3 miles north of the stadiums and the North Shore. On game days, the parking lots and decks nearby are packed and cost $25-40. I’ll drive down to the First Avenue garage where it’s pretty empty. Parking is $5-10. Then take the free T subway to the North Shore destinations. (There is free parking at the casino, but they crack down on people parking there and leaving the premises.) The train cars are often crammed with people those days.

[@biscuit_971]

Great video! Local Pittsburgher here, I love riding the T :)

[@christinereed3337]

Never been on a subway. Thanks for the experience 😊 I also learned a lot! Thanks again💙

[@frankforrest1597]

How cool is that; Pittsburgh has a subway system and it's FREE! I didn't know that they had one. Seems well kept, as to other cities subways (yuck). Thanks Jay, when I visit there I gotta utilize it. 👍👊

[@JPVideos81]

Useful and fun to ride haha

[@kevinray6586]

I've lived in Pittsburgh all my life and anytime I have to go into the city of downtown, I'm always taking the T as I hate driving in the city of Pittsburgh haha.

[@JPVideos81]

I dont blame ya

[@garynewcomer6816]

You're so awesome JP. I love trains. I'm definitely a trainaholic.

[@JPVideos81]

🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@NixCrossing]

Awesome video! The stations look really nice 😃.

[@mj1234321]

Neat! Definitely raises Pittsburgh's coolness factor for me!

[@dennismanbook]

Very cool train system there and interesting how the 2 cars move in the middle when going around curves.

[@cindyclark5804]

Thanks, I have never had the opportunity to see inside a city that humongous. Have a great day.

[@janeyr8963]

Thank you, Very cool!

[@transitschuykill]

Did you notice the old gateway platform from back when the gateway station was a loop? You could see it on the left side just before you reach the current gateway station

[@JPVideos81]

I didnt. Ill take notice next time i ride it.

[@douglaslangella7782]

Pretty nice subway. You should take a ride on the NY City Subway. Whole different world down there!

[@JPVideos81]

I have several years ago, but dont have a video on it.

[@pattyroosa1712]

The T is always crazy busy on game days. 🖤💛 I've never ridden because we always drive but I see what I'm missing now. 🙂 On your return trip (in warmer weather) you need to visit Station Square and ride the Gateway Clipper.

[@JPVideos81]

👍

[@JamieMakin]

Very cool! I had no idea that Pittsburgh had anything like this. It's good to know for next time I travel there, and heck, it would just be fun to ride lol.

[@JPVideos81]

I had a great time joy riding it lol

[@yukonjack18517]

Good to know if I ever get out to Pittsburgh! Thanks, JP!!!

[@JPVideos81]

My pleasure john

[@gradyford7955]

Live in DC now, but PGH is my hometown. You did a great job with this informative video. Visit DC and review the Metro sometime, if you haven't already. You would enjoy it.

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@donnicholas7552]

Free transportation? That's cool! Loved the subway ride!

[@JPVideos81]

It's for free, it's for me!

[@jamesbobo3128]

I know of a place in Cincinnati Ohio where there was going to be a subway train in the early nineteen hundreds but they ran out of money and abandoned it and sealed it up after spending millions of dollars on it

[@dconfused9919]

Privatization is a big problem.

[@zunkman1]

I've lived and worked in Pittsburgh all my life, and made daily use of the T. Those unused tracks at Steel Plaza are the tracks that run to Penn Station. Those tracks haven't been used in years. The Steel Plaza Station was built to allow for expansion to and beyond Penn Station, but that never happened, so half of Steel Plaza is unused. Blue, Red and Silver all use the tracks that were active on the day you were there. NO trains currently use the other side of the station. Great video.

[@JPVideos81]

That's unfortunate. Would love to take a ride to penn station on that line. Thanks for the info.

[@janreynolds1492]

Thank you for the tour. My 6 mo old grandson watched it with me and thoroughly enjoyed it, as did I. Love the end photos.

[@JPVideos81]

👍😁

[@dgrombach1]

Remember when USSteel building was built. Dad worked for US Steel

[@cecesmith6229]

Great job, that was enjoyable and makes me want to ride it now. Thanks!

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks for checking it out

[@bsage5514]

Lots of Great footage of the traveling 'T', super informative. Pretty cool watching the subway snake thru the tunnel! Everything seemed pretty clean and it's Free, Luved every minute! Great filming and editing JP Thank you! 🔥🔥🔥

[@JPVideos81]

Let's take a ride sometime 🙂

[@heatherfranklin5608]

Very neat video thanks for all the information it awesome

[@cafdnw]

Sure can’t beat “FREE” 👍🏻 Love the your escalator shots!! Thanks for sharing 👍🏻❤️

[@lovesmashbox]

I really enjoyed your trip to Pittsburgh. Give me ideas for summer time for things to do .

[@dianaroth9073]

JP well done. Standing ovation. Fellow Pittsburgh here - I think you did a great job featuring the T. I use to ride the T all the time when I lived South of the City. Sometimes, when I have business in the City, I park on the Northshore and the take the T over. I miss the T. Did you know the Northshore stop is fairly new? Also, the tracks in the back at Steel Plaza have not been used in a very long time like 20 years or so. Those tracks go out to the station where Amtrak stops. Again, great job!

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks for that info. I was wondering where those tracks went.

[@dianaroth9073]

@@JPVideos81 np. feel free to ask any questions. you can email me at [e-mail]

[@JPVideos81]

@@dianaroth9073 thank you. If you think of anything I should know, dont hesitate to email me as well. [e-mail]

[@user-David-Alan]

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@theodoredugranrut8201]

Thanks Jay, Very interesting a guy could have a fun day on the free trains . Central California Watching

[@JPVideos81]

I definitely had fun

[@rj78productions88]

Definitely a fun adventure as always. So glad you got to experience this and bring all of us alone to experience it with you. 😉

[@JPVideos81]

Hope you get to check it out and ride it in person

[@rj78productions88]

@@JPVideos81 as do I. 😊

[@rikspector]

Thank you Jay, That' was awesome. As a youngster, I rode the New York subways often and although they are very big and noisy and crowded, they were a fun adventure. However, Pittsburgh seems really sedate, it's like travelling to the past, I've been all over Washington D.C., which is also a great subway. Philly is another place that makes subway riding fun, but Pittsburgh has it's own style. Loved it! How can you beat free or nearly free:) Cheers, Rik Spector

[@JPVideos81]

You summed it up 🙂

[@jerryshira]

Always love the added bonus of still pics at the end!

[@JPVideos81]

Glad you enjoy them

[@martyjones9374]

Very cool!! Totally enjoyed seeing & learning about this. Rode the DC subway when one of my daughters in college. Also NY on a vacay. Not so great experience on that one. Just love all these adventures you take us on. Thanks Jay!🥰

[@JPVideos81]

These are much more people and user friendly lol

[@darlenegood4101]

Great video, fully enjoy the pics at the end and guess what......the windows were cleaner.....lol

[@JPVideos81]

Haha

[@brianwyatt2818]

That first interior station looked like it was just missing the full body scanner arnie walked through in total recall

[@tommymiddlefinger1283]

It's going to be installed in two weeks. Two weeks. Two weeks. Two weeks....

[@joangravel2436]

Thank you for taken us with haven't been on one in long time 👍

[@TriGogglin]

Great content, great editing, loved this segment, you gave us great history, and how to and where to ride it. I been to Pittsburgh several times and was always sad I never had the time to take the sub. I have however got to take the incline a couple times. Thanks for this JP. Glad you had a great trip.

[@JPVideos81]

I rode the inclines too. You'll see those soon.

[@TriGogglin]

@@JPVideos81 great, can't wait.

[@ksokie63]

That look like you had a good time. 👍 And I well agree that if there's a chance to ride the rails and it's free o ya 😁 thank you Jp for sharing and have a great evening. 👍

[@JPVideos81]

👍

[@carlavision6143]

JP, really loved and enjoyed your awesome and cool video!

[@kathie__1]

This was really interesting. Thank you JP

[@RandyGiven]

Good video! Thanks!

[@adamtereska8734]

Totally enjoy the subway. Nice video. Like the driver's vest, Service animal

[@tabbycat8323]

The large station reminded me of Seattle’s main bus terminal. I got so lost in there. Lol

[@JPVideos81]

Haha

[@eileenbauer4601]

This was great!

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

Great information! Anytime you can get a free train ride....😊 Reminds me of when you get to Chicago on Amtrak and the train follows the river, then under the city into the black abyss to Union Station.

[@jeffrey1841]

Thanks for the info. 👍 Hard to imagine that thing going under the allegheny River

[@JPVideos81]

It's impressive engineering

[@rickjohnson36]

The busses bend further turning corners.i'm from Homewood in the 'burg.

[@donaldfranklinjr7087]

Thank you JP video great video

[@glennjudd2467]

Very impressive ! Great subway system & its free !

[@debbieblaylock9997]

Awesome video

[@edithdavis2848]

Love your video, cause I would never experience otherwise. Thank you.

[@JPVideos81]

My pleasure edith

[@babsann8463]

That was fun! My first subway ride! Lol! Thanks! I really like it. If I ever were going to go there, I would use the subway system. Looked clean. FREE! I like that. Thank you! 😊👯🍀✌

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks babs

[@alexandria8255]

Very cool!

[@charleshartz4814]

Pittsburgh will surprise you.

[@myraandersen9881]

Thank you

[@SimplyExploVenturing]

It was cool l to find out from you that you can ride for free

[@susanmcglone3506]

Again 👍 awesome!

[@larryporter5035]

Next time, take a ride to Dormont. The T runs right down the street like a trolley

[@JPVideos81]

I may do that.

[@ralphbonkale1171]

Is there any potential plans for PRT to extend the light rail T? I would really like the T to travel to the North Hills Ross Township. and also, the T should travel beyond the Allegany station and should no longer be the northern terminus. it should travel to Manchester/Chateu and further along to Emsworth.

[@lauradarnall227]

I loved riding the underground rail way system.....

[@JPVideos81]

Me too

[@Geno2733]

Free between reedsdale Street and 1st avenue.

[@ohioman4646]

I thought this was gonna be a turnstile-hopping video

[@raymondyancy4867]

so do they still use the trolley

[@thatmobilemenace1409]

Yes, a portion of the Red Line in Beechview is street running as well as the former Brown Line through Allentown. However the Brown Line has been used for a detour route since 2012 if the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel is closed for some reason

[@LeighDeitrick1]

Cool!! And free 😃

[@JPVideos81]

👍

[@johnnycleveland216]

I gotta question cause I’m going to the game on Monday, when coming back from Allegheny Station does it automatically take you to back to First Avenue Station or do you gotta stop at Steel Plaza Station first on the way back?

[@JPVideos81]

It will make stops on the way to first ave.

[@MNorris1985]

I'm still confused on the service animal vest.....is it like a trainee joke they have....

[@DahlPalm]

Wow dude's

[@lingling7761]

If u at a loose end see the sights for free just riding those trains x

[@JPVideos81]

👍🙂

[@janebennett6354]

Is it safe to ride at night??

[@JPVideos81]

I would say so. Depends on what area you're riding, but just practice common sense and general safety for all public transportation.

[@maryjones3045]

I'VE BEEN ON A SUBWAY ONCE IN MY LIFE BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS AT😊

[@JPVideos81]

Its a unique way to get somewhere

[@themaestroslady1812]

Is there any accommodation for disabled passengers?

[@JPVideos81]

Each car has an area with fold up seats for a wheelchair or scooter. The Underground stations have elevators.

[@divineintervention253]

Tfs 🥰

[@bluewaveproductions4017]

Allegheny to Station Square is free, otherwise you have to pay

[@keithlantz6821]

SSSLLLOOOOOWWW.

[@jerryr7641]

Cool vlog on channel KZbin

[@sjbraze]

.......first.......

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🍺🍺🖖🏼🍕🏍

[@JMVideos7676]

Every time I see a big city subway system the first thing that comes to mind is Bernhard Goetz.

[@dconfused9919]

Bernie. Lol if you're not a crook you got nothing to worry about. I don't want to hear the history about trains! Do they have any stops worth going to? Looks empty so I think not. Guess I'm lucky. I have a bus stop right across the street. But it's only for grocery stores.