PATCO Speedline: America's Oldest Automated Trains

Of the 4 rapid transit systems in the US that cross from one state into another, there was one left for me to check out: the PATCO Speedline. This line dates back to the 1930s, when the Bridge Line began connecting Center City Philadelphia with Camden, NJ across the Delaware River. In the 1960s, this line was transformed to become the PATCO Speedline. Since it has been using Automatic Train Operation since its reopening in 1969, that makes PATCO the oldest transit system in the US to continuously do so, being even older than BART in the Bay Area.
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:20 Taking the long way from DC to NYC
1:54 PATCO, an interstate system
3:41 Please don't do this to me
4:22 Arriving in Philly, getting to PATCO
5:52 Holy Sh*t
6:12 Buying a ticket (only $1.40!)
6:52 Accessibility Issues
7:09 Interior Review
8:22 Who owns this line anyway?
8:54 PATCO Basic Facts
9:19 History of the Bridge Line
10:32 Changing to PATCO, Automated Operation
12:11 Ferry Avenue Station
13:40 Broadway Station, Final Thoughts

[@erichhouchens3711]

I lived in Lindenwold from 1985 until 1996 and used PATCO to commute to my job with Amtrak at 30th street station. Here's a few facts about PATCO. PATCO was planned to be a three branch system. In addition to the main branch to Lindenwold two other lines were planned. One would run north to the Moorestown area and the other would run south towards the Glassboro area. In your video at the 11:30 mark you can see the ramp that was built for these two lines to diverge from the main line. There is talk of a light rail line south towards Glassboro that would be an extension of the River line and not PATCO. You mentioned the operators having to run the trains in manual mode during wet track conditions. This is because the braking distance setup in ATO mode causes the trains to slide by the stations in rain, snow and ice. When PATCO was being planned the stations would have manned ticket booths to sell tickets and collect fares. These booths would only be open during daylight hours. At night the train operators would collect fares. In order to do this a small number of single cars were ordered. The operators position was placed on the left side of the train with a single leaf door directly behind the operator. This allowed him/her to view the platform for closing the doors and collecting fares at night. This is why the operators position is on the left side as opposed to the right side which is standard north American practice. I believe all the single unit cars have either been retired or converted into "married pairs" with other singles. The PATCO magnetic fare card system was chosen after the cars were ordered. The Lindenwold station is a transfer station with the NJT Atlantic City line. This station see heavy usage by the gambling crowd and beach goers during the summer months. PATCO's shops are also located at Lindenwold. Back in the 80's a set of the old Bridge Line cars were stored at the shops. I don't know if they're still there or not. Over the years there have been plans to extend to PATCO line under the river to 30th street and the University of PA. Don't hold your breathe on this one. And finally the cars as built used to have a great "Rail Fan Window" (RFW) seat at the front. When the cars were rebuilt full width cabs were installed.

[@Thom-TRA]

This is all great information! Thank you!

[@erichhouchens3711]

@@Thom-TRA I can't remember if WAMTA has a "rain mode" for their ATO or not. You might want to check out how the train is run above ground next time it rains in DC.

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm not sure if WMATA's ATO is up and running yet.

[@erichhouchens3711]

@@Thom-TRA Thanks. I realized that just after I hit the reply button. I grew up in the DC area and remember back in the 80's and 90's all the operator had to do was open and close the doors and press the start button. I have heard the Red line will be the first to get ATO operation back. BTW - I forgot to mention back in my original post about the connection between Amtrak at Septa at 30th street. This underground connection built as part of the construction of 30th street back in the 1930's was closed in the 80's due to crime and maintenance issues. Both Septa and Amtrak claimed it was the other operators responsibility to police and maintain the passageway. If you go to the southwest corner of 30th street you can see in the floor where Amtrak blocked off the stairs leading down to the passageway. There are plans to reopen this link though I'm not sure if it's part of the ongoing refresh of 30th street.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@erichhouchens3711 no worries, they’re bringing back ATO this year hopefully! The red line already has automated doors again, finally.

[@brwagenblast]

Another fun fact: the voice of the announcements is also the voice of AirTrain Newark and one of the voices of the NYC subway. That would be me.

[@stephensaines7100]

I hear you!

[@Thom-TRA]

Really? That’s cool! I think I saw a video about you recently.

[@theautistictransitfan]

off all the people I expected to comment under a PATCO video, THE Bernie Wagenblast was not one of them!

[@sakethballa36t]

I use this line every day to get from Lindenwold to Philly. Comfortable, quick, and remarkably cheap. The stations on the Jersey side seem much better kept than the Philly side for whatever reason. Can't wait for Franklin Square to open!

[@matty2128]

I hope that WMATA can turn on their automated trains again.

[@Thom-TRA]

They're working on it!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge was designed in the 1920s by Paul Philippe Cret, who was educated at Lyon's École des Beaux-Arts and migrated from France to the US to teach at UPenn, who was also the architect of the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge in the 1910s, DC's Duke Ellington Bridge, DC's Eccles Building and UT Austin's Tower in Texas in the 1930s, and DC's Pan American Union Building in the 1900s. Plans for a bridge to augment the ferries across the Delaware River began as early as 1818, when one plan envisioned using Smith Island, a narrow island off the Philadelphia shore that was removed in 1893. The bridge was dedicated as part of the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From 1926 to 1929, it had the longest single span of any suspension bridge in the world. Besides Cret as supervising architect, the chief engineer of the bridge was Polish-born Ralph Modjeski and the design engineer was Leon Moisseiff. Leon became known for his work on "deflection theory," which held that the longer bridges were, the more flexible they could be. Charles Alton Ellis elaborated on Moisseiff's theories, and applied them in the design of the famed Golden Gate Bridge. Moisseiff served as a consulting engineer on the bridge. However, Moisseiff designed the original the Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge in 1940, the first bridge that he designed as the leading engineer. He lost his strong reputation when this narrow span across the Puget Sound in Washington State collapsed in a windstorm four months after it opened. In 1950, another bridge was built to replace it.

[@Thom-TRA]

I love the Duke Ellington bridge! Especially the bus stop with the mural of all the presidents next to it.

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

The retro-futuristic rail transit America never got.

[@Thom-TRA]

I mean, America got BART and the DC Metro...

[@tommorrison9490]

@@Thom-TRA don't forget MARTA!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I agree that 30th Street Station is absolutely a breathtaking station, definitely one of my top favorites in the US among Grand Central Terminal, Hoboken Terminal, and DC Union Station! 30th Street Station was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, a Chicago firm that was the successor to Daniel Burnham's firm. Thus besides 30th Street in Philly, they worked on many Chicago icons like the Wrigley Building, Merchandise Mart, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Civic Opera House! They helped complete Chicago Union Station as well to finish a design that began under Burnham's firm. They also worked on Philly's Suburban Station and Cleveland's Terminal Tower. The sculpture you showed at 4:27 is called the Angel of the Resurrection, portraying Michael the Archangel lifting up the soul of a dead soldier from the flames of war. It commemorates the 1,307 Pennsylvania Railroad employees who died in World War II and was sculpted by Walker Hancock in 1952! At Lindenwold, there's a connection with the Atlantic City Line! After Conrail took over South Jersey rail services in 1976 (which also included Ocean City and Cape May) and NJDOT ceased these services in 1981, Amtrak and NJT struck a deal where the main line to Atlantic City would be upgraded by Amtrak, Amtrak would run an Atlantic City Express to AC from places like NYC, Philly, and DC, while also building commuter stations for a NJT service on the line. The line reopened in 1989, and during this time, NJT rail service was between Lindenwold and Atlantic City. After Amtrak discontinued the AC Express in 1995, NJT extended its service from Lindenwold to Philadelphia.

[@Thom-TRA]

I was going to maybe ride the Atlantic City line last time I was in Philly, but the schedules lined up so that I would have spent most of the day doing that…

[@stephenkeever6029]

@@Thom-TRA Hope you get to do it someday in the future.

[@stephenkeever6029]

I am glad things lined up so that I could see what Avery had to say about the wonderful 30th street station!

[@davidaldinger113]

Great video it what REALLY would be great would be a ride over the entire Lindenwold line.

[@00Zy99]

Interesting note-PATCO started after BART but opened earlier. Why? Because it focused on using state-of-the-art best practices rather than introducing massive new technological innovations. BART was forced to accept cutting edge technology as a prerequisite for federal aid (this being the 1960s when the planning began, and a desire to be high-tech and futuristic was annoyingly pervasive), which PATCO didn't receive. This has also helped PATCO in the long run, as its systems have proven relatively easy to update, while BART (and the Morgantown People Mover) have massive issues with dated technology.

[@peterfrey6062]

also in its initial planning, Patco had to assert that it was running an urban rapid transit line, not a Railroad, subject to RR federal rules.

[@Byftpup]

LMAO - Bunnies... that was my highlight.. You are insanely knowledgable on US rail systems, both historically and travel wise. Thanks heaps for the hard work.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you for the kind words! Drop another comment the next time you see a bunny :)

[@peterfrey6062]

where did that bunny come from??? City Hall?

[@himbourbanist]

thanks for talking about PATCO :D it's such a cool line with beautiful trains and incredible views over the Delaware. A wonderful asset for our city. Hopefully someday the Port Authority has the sense to expand the system to its initially proposed scope and get South Jersey covered with high quality rail transit.

[@Thom-TRA]

It would be nice if they could expand it into a larger network. And get some new trains.

[@db399]

As someone who used to live in Philly (briefly) and took this train semi-regularly, it was jarring to go to Collingswood and Haddonfield after seeing Camden, Kensington and parts of West Philly.

[@Thom-TRA]

Probably way more suburban

[@JohnJohn-uz8ip]

I lived in Camden for a few years and loved the Patco. Hope you make it to Buffalo for the NFTA Metro Rail.

[@Thom-TRA]

Someday!

[@mmrw]

It’s crazy how many similarities PATCO has with PATH

[@Thom-TRA]

There are quite a few!

[@radarhec]

Glad your paco ride was so soft. We went from far NE Philadelphia to AC NJ . I felt the train was going to fall apart ! The trip was not boring ! Cell phones were a new thing . I called home to Philly from the board walk at AC NJ to see if the call would reach . It did . your ride took me back many moons ago ! Good flick !

[@kjrehberg]

Great video! I also learned that PATCO trains accelerate much faster than other mass transit systems.

[@Thom-TRA]

It didn’t stand out to me when I was riding it but that’s probably because I was paying attention to other things!

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

I love that the Riverline finally made an interchange in Pennsauken, NJ to switch to the Atlantic City Line which also goes into Philadelphia. Back in 2015 going home from a doctor in Philly, I made a switch there at Pennsauken to the Riverline.

[@Thom-TRA]

The RiverLine is a great line! I have yet to ride the Atlantic City line.

[@MDLC424]

Riding the patco made me so MAD. Seeing that small towns can get 24 hour frequent service made me very irritated with the situation out in places like California (where I live).

[@Thom-TRA]

Oh yeah I bet! California has a ways to go, but seemingly they’re more willing to do it at this point than most places.

[@NickBurman]

Never ridden the Lindewold line, but I'm a firm fan of their pre-PATCO rolling stock with their "Buck Rogers" look.

[@Foxy_AR]

Am I the only one who knows about this line only because I watched an Alan Fisher video about it?

[@CaradhrasAiguo49]

Your historical route diagrams always come in useful! I rode PATCO between Center City and Haddonfield, which definitely includes 65 MPH-rated segments. The acceleration and cruising at the top speed was a marvel by rapid transit standards! The whirring of the motors is so satisfying!

[@Thom-TRA]

Nothing more satisfying than traveling at high speed!

[@druliefw]

I actually clocked the Speedline at 65 MPH between Haddonfield and Woodcrest Station with an app on my smartphone

[@peterfrey6062]

@@Thom-TRA that's why it's called "Patco high speed line" hahaha

[@ck4426]

Really enjoy your historical research, graphics, and explanations in your videos. Absolutely awesome!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you thank you!!

[@rmorzy75]

4:00 got me dying 😂😂 5:58 lmaooooo

[@Thom-TRA]

People need to be told haha

[@trainsdestinations3960]

Wow, nice video. This is my local transit system and is so convenient for me getting into the city and back.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m sure you use it a lot!

[@TheHungryTransitFan]

8:15 you got the full PATCO experience, a pocket full of Sacajawea dollars! In the future (as mentioned in a reply elsewhere) they're aiming to use TVMs which can dispense bills. They'll also have a contactless trip card, so I guess there will be an opportunity for another neat collector's item. Thanks for featuring South Jersey's dependable little transit line!

[@Thom-TRA]

Those coins came in handy! And I kept a few

[@filanfyretracker]

as someone who lives and works in SNJ in a supermarket, I can always tell if one of our cashiers got someone who rode the train. dollar coins are common change from ticket machines, Metro-North issued them too when I lived up that way.

[@user-bv9gm1kc2v]

There you go, channeling your Canadian viewers with our "loonies". ​@@Thom-TRA

[@kirstynloftus826]

I still have my coins, they’re just too cool to use!

[@frontier_etc]

Great video on the Patco Speedline. I live in northern NJ so I've never ridden this, but I did look into this line before when considering a move and job opportunity in southern NJ

[@Thom-TRA]

Definitely go down and ride it if you get the chance!

[@stephenkeever6029]

Excellent research, information and storytelling! Glad you covered a transit system that I have ridden, but never knew much about it. It has always felt old and slow, but safe, reliable and a system you knew would get you there.

[@mikecarrington4297]

amazing how much transit info you have accumulated. great job as usual

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you! It definitely takes up a lot of my brain space haha

[@peterfrey6062]

@@Thom-TRA yep, very enjoyable; and you are quite an expert, especially on something as complex as the Patco history. I might add that the Locust street tunnel was originally designed as part of a downtown "subway loop" There is a partly built "ghost subway" under Arch street that was never finished.

[@ELAlcoRS3]

Thanks, great video. I have to go down there and ride on it one of these days.

[@Thom-TRA]

Let me know how it goes!

[@BDavinci06]

Good vid covering PATCO. Can't wait for your NJT RiverLine video. I use those 2 to go into Philly. When I can't get the SEPTA Regional Rail at Trenton.

[@Thom-TRA]

Just a few more days!

[@Bratsbergbanen1]

Hi Thom, first time viewer here. Great video, you're a really enjoyable presenter. Will absolutely check out your other stuff!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you, please do! Thanks for commenting too

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this wonderful video ! I rode that route about 10 years ago, all the way to Lindenwold. I agree with all that you say, and really thought the cars were very comfortable, and nicely maintained. Fortunately I didn’t have your experience on entering the PATCO station ! I look forward to your ride from Trenton to NYC, and hope you ride in a bi-level service which give a great ride, and splendid views !

[@Thom-TRA]

Surprisingly, it was a single level train!

[@JerrellWoolford]

I recall a few times riding New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line which runs parallel to the PATCO Line around Lindenwold . If you're lucky, you'll get to race PATCO along the way 😁

[@srsykes]

I used to ride the Bridge Line, as we called it before PATCO. It only had two stops, City Hall-Camden and Broadway, the end of the line. A transfer from the Philly subway system plus a token ( two for 5 cents) was required. That was in 1965. The fact that PATCO runs 24/7 is GREAT! I live about four miles from the Lindenwold Station so I always use the train when I have to go into Philly.

[@Thom-TRA]

When the conversion was complete, did you consider PATCO an improvement over the Bridge Line?

[@stephensaines7100]

Great channel! I'm subscribing.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@genmdse]

thats super cool you keep the tickets as a souvenir

[@shigemorif1066]

Great video! Lived near one of the stations in Philly back in the day. Great news about the Franklin Square station! Maybe that will make it an alternative for intra city trips in Philly. I could see going from Rittenhouse square over to Chinatown using it.

[@Thom-TRA]

A cheaper alternative too!

[@TuukkaVarjoranta]

Interesting documentary of the PATCO! 😎

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@guyfaux3978]

The stations in Center City were, I believe, originally intended to be on a balloon loop that would have returned to the Broad line after going to Suburban Station, and would have been operated as part of the Broad line

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, that is correct! The tunnel was built decades before it ever went into use.

[@willy.william4582]

For the announcements, is that the same guy who does the Newark and JFK AirTrain announcements?

[@TheHungryTransitFan]

Correct, that's Bernie Wagenblast. She also recently came out as a trans woman last year. In addition to the AirTrains, she also did the station announcements for MTA (arriving trains, "Stand clear...")

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@wildgoldean]

It would be nice if PATCO extends to Atlantic City on its east end & to 30th St station on its west end.

[@Thom-TRA]

Definitely better than the current NJT line

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed that video👍👍

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@charlesbaran1106]

Years ago, an Amtrak rider getting out at 30 St. could get a free ride on SEPTA to Suburban Station. If that is still so, and maybe includes a ride to Jefferson Station, it would be an alternative to taking the Market St. subway.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve heard of that but I’m not sure if it’s still the case

[@calinahernandez6775]

Septa still honors Amtrak tickets to Suburban, Jefferson and Penn Medicine Stations.

[@charlesbaran1106]

Thanks for the update!

[@paulcastillo1310]

Great video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@St.souptown]

Best transit channel,

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you thank you

[@UncommonElevators]

I enjoyed riding patco for the first time a few months ago. My only complaints were the low frequency on sundays and lack of schedule/ticket coordination with the river line.

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish it would be integrated with SEPTA

[@MrCrazycook8]

Thom suffers from 'Railfixation' No known cure. Only relief is to share experiences/thoughts with others on KZbin :)

[@Thom-TRA]

There's no known cure because no one has ever felt the need to find a cure!

[@davidaldinger113]

I thought the worst thing anybody would have to deal with in any rapid transit station would be what smells like panther piss. I smelled what smelled like that in a stairwell in a Metra station in downtown Chicago.

[@Thom-TRA]

How do you know specifically what panther urine smells like?

[@davidaldinger113]

@@Thom-TRA oh, I don’t know. I had a friend in college who made that remark about panther piss when we got back to our dorm after some partying we’d been doing one night. I mean the stairway DID smell like piss but his reference to panther piss just sounded too good not to stick with me all these years.

[@filanfyretracker]

I dont think NJ could function without trains.

[@Thom-TRA]

Most places can’t

[@dave11686]

Very cool

[@Thom-TRA]

Super cool

[@BenriBea]

It's interesting how 2 of only 4 interstate metros are in New Jersey. Where would they be without their neighbors...

[@Thom-TRA]

Haha very true!

[@kirstynloftus826]

NJ is probably one of the only states that doesn’t have a major city in the state, it’s really only popular because of its location to other metro areas, otherwise it’d just be a bunch of farmland

[@peterfrey6062]

Great narrative. and good knowledge of the history of Patco. Only thing to add would be more shots of the view crossing the river. It's really too bad Patco never carried through on its original plan to add other branches to the system and in effect replace the old railroad lines.

[@dylan1845]

When I used to live in southern New Jersey, I used to take PATCO every day to get to work in center city Philly 😊I worked on 8th and Market

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s a nice easy commute!

[@AG7-MTM]

I hope the speedline can get new open-gangway trains, maybe similar to DC's 8000 series or more hopefully Atlanta's CQ400

[@kiosk5595]

Vancouver also sometimes has manual operators, albeit much more rarely. I remember a video somewhere during a rare major PNW snowstorm and there was someone manually operating the Skytrain

[@Thom-TRA]

But do they ride along even when the train is in automatic mode?

[@kiosk5595]

@@Thom-TRAThat I’m not sure of. I’d need an actual Vancouverite to confirm that instead of it’s 3-hours-south neighbor 😁

[@amfm889]

@@Thom-TRANo. Skytrain is completely driverless.

[@SF_SPOTTER]

Hey Thom I was wondering if you could review the Amtrak blue water

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve been on the blue water before but I haven’t done a review of it yet!

[@SF_SPOTTER]

@@Thom-TRA I’ve heard it’s very beautiful is that true

[@yaush_]

After seeing the MBTA comment I just have to say: it is very cool that the T goes to providence. The MBTA has also tried for many years to make a line which goes to Manchester NH. However, the proposal is repeatedly rejected by the New Hampshire government. If it got accepted though, it would be the third rail line in NH which is funded by a separate government. The Downeaster and Vermonter are funded by Maine and Vermont respectively. The Downeaster must go through NH to reach Maine and the Vermonter has one stop (which is for some reason) in NH, but the whole line runs on the border.

[@lancomedic]

The official name for the PATCO line was "Lindenwald-Philadelphia Hi-Speed Line". We all called it the Lindenwold Line. In the early ‘70s when I first rode it compared to the El (which is what Philadelphians call the Market-Frankford Subway Elevated Line) it seemed truly space aged. It was fast, quiet and had automated announcements which are commonplace today. I was fortunate to lead a tour of the entire facility including the main control building and shops. At the shops there was a train of PRSL RDCs operated by Conrail idling. Haven’t been back to Philly in 40 years but I still have a PATCO time-table from 1976, the Bicentennial Year. The fare was $.90 to Lindenwold.

[@brian_brennan42]

I really love that there is a ton of transportation KZbin pages now…and you all seem to live in the DMV…which is where I’m at! 😊

[@Thom-TRA]

I've been on KZbin for 9 years! I wonder who else lives in the DMV, I'd love to meet them

[@brian_brennan42]

That Andy on Track guy who does all the Metro videos…those are SO good!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Oh I know him

[@brian_brennan42]

@@Thom-TRA not surprised, you are two great transit content creators! 🫡

[@brianhenderson9124]

I used to live there, but now I live in Salt Lake City. Incidentally, TRA, great job covering the TRAX and S-Line.

[@japanamericacar427]

san diego is planning on extending the blue line into downtown tijuana so that would be a first in north amreica, an international line

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m curious how that would happen given the current political climate

[@japanamericacar427]

@@Thom-TRA Sandag, our planning agency, and the company they are partnering with to study it, Cordova, are both optimistic. They are pitching it as a way to increase border capacity as it would make another border crossing in function.

[@japanamericacar427]

Also this is dependent on a new san ysidro station, which will have 3 tracks and be elevated, they are considering either a shuttle service or a full service to tijuana, issues are some things in mexican law when it comes to railroads

[@johnfriel-uj2zs]

Patco Is Awesome Never Has Problems😊

[@Thom-TRA]

I don't think anywhere never has problems but PATCO seemed pretty great

[@alancutler6453]

I was a Center City resident until 1987. Used PATCO to visit my aunt near Haddonfield. Latter we took PATCO to Lindenwold then caught a train to Atlantic City.

[@Thom-TRA]

Good memories I’m sure!

[@BeniRoseMusic]

30th st station DID connect with the 30th street El stop once upon a time, but they closed the pedestrian tunnel due to crime in the 80s due to crime. There's constant talks about reopening it but it never happens.

[@Thom-TRA]

I believe they’re actually building it again

[@BeniRoseMusic]

@@Thom-TRA Wikipedia says in the section about the current work they’re doing there funded by the infrastructure bill, that there aren’t plans to connect the two. I’d love for that to be wrong!

[@AG7-MTM]

I hope modern CBTC signalling and walk-through trains can be introduced. And maybe introduce a Metro Trains Melbourne idea-CBTC as a driver assist to help them stop in the right spot without needing to do it automatically

[@henrycrowell741]

Thom, I really do love your videos to death, but the jorts are an interesting choice

[@Thom-TRA]

They go down to the knee. It was a 90° day. All guys my age wear them. I can’t possibly imagine what issue you could have. But this is a weird comment.

[@stefunnyo]

"The Machine Will Not Take My Card, So i have to walk a decent chunk to an atm" Continues To Walk By A Bank Of America

[@Thom-TRA]

Why would I pay for fees at BOA when I can walk a few more blocks and visit Chase?

[@ilikedoom2707]

It's so crazy that you saw a human turs at a Patco station because the only time I've ever seen one that I didn't create was at the Patco station in Lindenwald

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m not sure if I like that you added “that I didn’t create” 😂😂

[@Roma_eterna]

I really hope they integrate mobile pay on PATCO like they did on SEPTA

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish they would just integrate both systems

[@Roma_eterna]

@@Thom-TRA even better!

[@davidaldinger113]

I enjoyed this video but I really hope you’ll do one that’s PATCO only and goes all the way to Lindenwold.

[@Thom-TRA]

Someday!

[@davidaldinger113]

I can only hope so.

[@ayindestevens6152]

So last week I was in the area to see the Battleship Nea Jersey be moved so we went to Philly For lunch. We wound up walking one to stop up to City Hall because we couldn’t figure out where to enter in at the Broadway stop.

[@Thom-TRA]

Valid, sometimes it’s not always very clear

[@Jackyliu009]

Riding on the Benjamin Franklin bridge at night offers a georgeous view

[@Thom-TRA]

Oh I’m sure!

[@drdewott9154]

Very interesting stuff (apart from the... crappy situation at 15/16th str station). I assume its Level 2 Grade of automation. Semi automatic with a driver still present to engage the systems. The S-train system in my home city of Copenhagen was just upgraded to this standard not that long ago, though of course with more modern CBTC systems and it has improved reliability immensely. Though the S-train itself is old, around the same age as the original bridge line, the systems 90th anniversary is next week. But the Patco Speedline feels really comparable to the S-trains here in a lot of ways.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah it really is like a very limited S-train.

[@esjay2011]

Thanks

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you so much, that's very generous :) have a great day

[@counterfit5]

When I visited Philly in August, I somehow managed to pick a seat with no window going both ways over the Delaware

[@Thom-TRA]

Oh that sucks lol

[@TheLIRRFrenchie...]

Hmmm, a provision at 11:32 perhaps 🤔🤔....

[@keithlantz6821]

People from Philadelphia call the Market-Frankford line the "El" because it is elevated except for the stops in center city, which are underground.

[@Thom-TRA]

I knew that

[@peterfrey6062]

in its new "re-branding" set up it will now just be labelled as "L" Go figure, it's Septa.

[@leshawnjefferson6150]

Btw Parking is free if you use the train at all the suburban stations.

[@keithrussell9834]

I never knew that Philadelphia has a metro system until now and I'm watching from London. There is a blink and you'll miss it moment in the video that one can see the poop on the right side of the stairs of the station before he went to the ATM so walking past it 3 times must of been bad. I'm surprised that nobody left some chunky soup (vomit) there too as the smell is bound to make someone sick.

[@U11surpassing]

You should go back when Franklin Square station opens this year

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m thinking about it

[@samlbrown6665]

Get yourself a main line credit card ( MC or Visa ) and you s/b able to pay fares anywhere & everywhere. there are plenty of cards available with no annual fee.

[@Thom-TRA]

I have a credit card, the issue was the card reader was broken. It was only accepting cash.

[@lukestrainsandotherstuff]

I’ve never even heard of this line it’s pretty cool though

[@Thom-TRA]

Definitely worth checking out!

[@wilfstor3078]

Is that like a standard off the shelf PA chime or something, it's completely identical to the Union Pearson Express here in Toronto, and I swear I heard it used somewhere else as well...

[@Thom-TRA]

They're used on a lot of streetcars and light rails. I think Milwaukee's Hop uses it.

[@TheHungryTransitFan]

I've searched, but am very curious who the manufacturer of the chime is. I can't nail it down to one exact brand. They're also used on the Baltimore Streetcar

[@collectivelyimprovingtrans2460]

It’s a METRO, but it serves the purpose of a commuter rail

[@tonyfreehauf4463]

Hey dude! you should wear a suite and tie ... I like your videos ... oldtony

[@Earths-Moon]

Path is a commuter rail. While it does look like a metro/rapid transit, by definition it transports people from the suburbs to Jersey city and New York City

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s legally classified as a commuter rail because it shares a bridge with FRA-compliant tracks. By your definition of commuter rail, practically every subway and light rail in the country would be one.

[@Earths-Moon]

⁠@@Thom-TRAI see. So there is more that is required than it just being a passenger train going from suburb to urban

[@davidsummers6700]

Took this train as a 15 year old living in Suburban NJ to Philly to buy booze and cigarettes for $2 each way. Great train. lolz.

[@carlos.a.sanchez201]

Interesting, just like PATH it has 13 stations, one out of four rapid transit system operates bistate in the county, I did board the PATCO High Speedline three times, and it's a nice rail system. However, I'm not too surprised on TVM are not too reliable, but PATH is worse on TVMs. The good news is now you can use your smartphone with digital payment to tap at the turnstile and walk through.

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, I hadn’t made that 13-station connection yet! Must not be that unlucky of a number then…

[@carlos.a.sanchez201]

@@Thom-TRA there's still time, just like PATCO, PATH does operate 24/7, now you can use your smartphone with digital payment to tap at the turnstile at all five train terminals which is under Phase (2), Phase (3) will be expanding from Grove St., Exchange Place, Newport Stations in Jersey City, NJ. Then at Christopher St., 9th St., 14th. & 23rd Streets in NYC by using the TAPP which stands for (Total Access PATH Payment). The MTA MetroCards & Smarlink Cards will be phased out by either the end of this year or early next year.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Are the Train Operators still out in the open? They had a curtain behind them, but the side was open last time I rode Patco.

[@Thom-TRA]

No they have a private cabin now

[@kirillboyko9208]

Haha wait, Thom, wait! Wait!! But what about Metra, MBTA and New Jersey Transit?! 😂

[@Thom-TRA]

You are banned for eternity and then some!!!!

[@transitxan2253]

I find it funny how the little *chime* (11:32) before the announcements is literally the EXACT same as the one on the Milwaukee streetcar. Curious if it’s used elsewhere.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah I recognized it from Milwaukee too!

[@DavidCiani]

San Diego Trolley uses it too.

[@thetrainfoamer_gaming_727]

8:44 had the ace train beep

[@matthewharty6531]

great

[@alanwiad3978]

SEPTA does as well from DE-PA-NJ

[@Thom-TRA]

How did you manage to skip the entire introduction of the video?

[@Mikeyelves13]

Are there any rapid transit networks that are in multiple countries other than the trams in Basel?

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes! The trams in Strasburg, trams in Geneva, the narrow-gauge trains in the Basque Country, and in the future there will be a transit line between Singapore and Malaysia.

[@rebeckaann8246]

What’s so great about automated rail (and driverless rail), it’s just one more lost job opportunity? And driving train seems like a cool job.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s safer, it’s less prone to errors, you can run more trains on one line, and you can have consistent train service even if the labor market is tight. Do you know how many trains were cancelled in Europe the past few years because they couldn’t find enough drivers?

[@yaush_]

@@Thom-TRAomg the rail strikes in France are crazy 💀🇫🇷

[@rebeckaann8246]

Still….driverless system are more “dead” than staffed ones. And when errors occur, and there are errors on driverless systems, I know as I ride the toy-like København Metro, they can be major. Delays, accidents and so on. And yes, train personnel go on strike now and then, in most of Europe you have the right to do so (at least for now) and they probably have reasons to do that. High frequency timetables often create half empty trains and that’s not so environmentally friendly. No, I don’t know how many trains that was cancelled due to shortage of drivers but its to bad if enough people aren’t fit for that job. But it’s still a lost job opportunity. Thank you for your answer.

[@respect411]

will you ever ride septas commuter rail/trolleys?! you were so close!

[@Thom-TRA]

All I will say is, stay tuned!

[@yashthorat8268]

dollar coins are uesed still? are they accepted in all businesses across the states?

[@Thom-TRA]

I unfortunately am not a coin expert

[@yashthorat8268]

@@Thom-TRA well I am from India so I don't know much either. Still 1 question why almost all american coaches are silver metallic colour. I know many are old and refurbished. But still. I watched your cab car explainer video In india we don't use those. The engine reverses as many times as it needs because 98%or more route is electrified and even all current diesel engines are dual cabs. If you can visit India and Indian railways Please do.

[@Ratcher.]

you can use your patco freedom card at septa stations but not vice versa for what ever reason

[@Thom-TRA]

So weird

[@toy4x4nj]

I use PATCO a few times a month and it very convenient. but station in Philadelphia are just not safe or clean. Last time i used PATCO at 8th & Market, a murder took place about a hour later after i enter the station. The city should do a better job. There used to be a tunnel between septa 30th station and Amtrak 30th There are plans to reopen soon.

[@Leonard_Wilson]

I consider PATCO to be a more commuter rail-ish version of the PATH train.

[@Thom-TRA]

Though technically PATH is the system that is legally classified as a commuter rail!