SEPTA is reminding its customers who still use tokens that token sales at cashiers’ booths and vending machines at Market-Frankford and Broad Street Line stations will be phased out starting Monday, Jan. 22. The phase-out of sales at cashiers’ booths will continue through the first week of February. Then, starting Monday, Feb. 12 and continuing through the week of Feb. 28, all remaining vending machines will be removed.

The full schedule is now available online at www.septa.org.  Continue Reading

Below is information on schedule changes for SEPTA and city services and special hours and closings at some local shops, cafes and restaurants. We’ll update this post when more information becomes available. If you want to add your business hours, please do so in the comments below. Information on holiday events can be found here. Happy Holidays!

SEPTA

Buses (except Route 204), Trains, and Trolleys will operate on a SUNDAY schedule on Christmas Day (Monday, Dec. 25) and on New Year’s Day. Customers should check the timetables for specific holiday service information.  Continue Reading

As SEPTA Key card sales have increased, SEPTA is phasing out token sales.

If you’re still using SEPTA tokens for your rides, take note: Starting in mid-January 2018, SEPTA will begin the process of phasing out token sales at cashiers’ booths and vending machines at Market-Frankford and Broad Street Line stations. Tokens will continue to be sold at major SEPTA sales offices, Regional Rail stations, and at over 200 third-party retailers until further notice.

More and more riders are making the transition to the SEPTA Key, and token sales have been steadily declining. About half of the station vending machines on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines have already been removed. Beginning in mid-January, cashier sales will end and the 40 remaining token machines will be removed over a six-week period. Token sales at all these locations are expected to end on or about March 1, 2018. The full phase-out schedule will be posted on SEPTA’s website, www.septa.org, in early January.  Continue Reading

The first electric trolley debuted 125 years ago today on the Catharine and Bainbridge Street Line. Photo from the The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

On December 15, 1892, the first electric trolley began running on the Catharine and Bainbridge Streets Line, making public transportation a little more affordable for the masses.

SEPTA is marking the anniversary today with a ceremony and a “wrapped” trolley (pictured below) commemorating those early days that will run on the 11, 13, 34 and 36 lines for the next year.  Continue Reading

Here’s something that might put you in the holiday spirit: SEPTA’s decorated holiday trolleys are back in service, operating on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 or 36!

Operators Gary Mason and Dave Musgrave used hundreds of lights, yards of garland and tons of ornaments to decorate the “holly, jolly trolleys” in an effort to make the season brighter for their passengers.

The festive trolleys can be found on the following routes:
• Trolley #9104, operating on Route 10
• Trolley #9055, operating on Routes 11, 13, 34 or 36

If you haven’t yet, we hope you’re lucky enough to catch a ride on one of these festive trolleys.

Here’s some useful information on public transportation, parking, trash/recycling collection and hours/closings at local businesses during the holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

Parking

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is not enforcing meters, kiosks or residential parking time limits on Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov. 23).

SEPTA Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Service

Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 23:
• Regional Rail, buses, trolleys and the Norristown High Speed Line will operate on a Sunday/Holiday Schedule.
• Detours will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. on and around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 124 and 125 due to the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Continue Reading