Patco was once the gem of American public transit, I'm not sure what happened but between shutting down the tunnel connection with the Broad Street line and seemingly no cleaning at all anymore of 12th 13th, even as a city resident and huge advocate and user of public transit, I find it hard to recommend anymore. read more

The meager 13 Station System runs well and frequently in the very few places it goes. If you happen to live near Berlin, Voorhees, Haddonfield, Collingswood, or Camden, great. If you can easily get to Camden otherwise great. Unfortunately, some of PATCO's Philly exits double as homeless shelters. You literally trip over the poor people sleeping on the floor exiting at 10th or 15th and Locust. DRPA (which runs PATCO) and the City have some lame arrangement where the City, not DRPA isn't responsible for foyers and exits once you leave the turnstiles. Which is to say, these are completely neglected by the City and are a public health hazard. The whole of the DRPA is set up to limit accountability because no one in charge other than the governors of either NJ and PA are elected. This has historically led to major problems of systemic neglect. Recently, however, the trains and tracks were renovated and an abandoned Center City station in Old City is being completely rebuilt. The system has no direct connection to either SEPTA Regional Rail or the National Transportation Grid, nor does it plan to. read more

TONIGHT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FREEDOM CARD ISSUES 1/8/2025 @5:50PM... AWESOME!! Was in a rush to catch the train and of course left the house without cash/card.. Customer service lady was very helpful and understanding!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!! read more

incompetent buffons. stop having a schedule and stop saying you come every 10 minutes. You waste people time who plan around these lies. say- we try to come every 10 minutes. You would be hated less! read more

Patco stopped westbound trains going into Philly at ferry avenue cause of possible fire at the broad way station. Didn't have a emergency bus there for passengers or didn't have a plan b for an emergency. Do not look good. Thanks,,.... read more

Realizing that my previous review update was probably bringing down PATCO's overall rating, I wanted to update again to the four stars I feel they deserve. I do recognize that my experience last winter was a freak incident (that better not happen again). For the most part, PATCO is reliable and still the least expensive way for me to get to and from the city. The increased security has not gone unnoticed, and I give props to the officers who are on their game when the Drunky McSkunkies and Shady McShadertons start any bullshit. Bonus: For anyone with an iPhone, the PATCO app with train schedules is solid. read more

Patco (sometimes referred to as the "High Speedline" or just "Speedline"), is hands down the best form of public transportation in the Philadelphia area, and the only train that connects Philadelphia & South Jersey. It has 9 stops in Southern NJ (Lindenwold, Ashland, Woodcrest, Haddonfield, Westmont, Collingswood, Ferry Ave, Broadway & City Hall) and 4 stops in Philadelphia (8th & Market, 9th/10th & Locust, 12th/13th & Locust, 15th/16th & Locust). The trip from the last stop in NJ (Lindenwold), to the last stop in PA (15th/16th & Locust) takes about 25 minutes, and will cost you $3 ($6 for Round-trip). The cost is less if you get on/off at earlier stops. A few stops have connections w/ other lines (for addt'l fare). Lindenwold station connects w/ Atlantic City Rail line, Broadway connects w/ NJ Riverline, 8th & Market connects w/ Market/Frankford line, & both 12th/13th & Locust, and 15th/16th & Locust have connect w/ the Broad Street line. Trains are clean (most of the time), safe and usually always run on-time. If you're a regular commuter, it's worth it to purchase a freedom card. It'll cost you $5 for the card, but you can reload money onto it. You can also register it online, so if ever it's lost or stolen, Patco will cancel it & transfer your funds onto a new card. Having a freedom card is also the only way to pay to get into the paid parking lots at the NJ stations. Some tips of a frequent Patco traveler: - The underground stops on the Philly side are color coded (Teal - 8th & Market; Blue - 9th/10th & Locust; Purple - 12th/13th & Locust; Yellow - 15th/16th & Locust) - Most stations in NJ have free parking. The exceptions are Haddonfield (paid parking lots only) and Broadway & City Hall (no parking lots since they're underground) - Areas of the parking lot at the Ferry Ave station tend to flood in even just a small amount of rain, so check the weather before you park here - If purchasing a ticket with cash (vs. credit), make sure to have small bills. The machines only give you change in gold $1 coins. read more

With all of Septa's constant misgivings and imperfections, having the chance to ride PATCO has always seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel by comparison.because ultimately in a lot of ways its the efficient and flexible way that public transit should be. The trains run 24/7 and for the most part manages to show up on time give or take a couple of minutes. The stations an trains are far cleaner (and less smelling of urine) than others that I've had the misfortune of riding, and there's almost always at least one worker manning the station stop in case of any issues. And with access points through Philadelphia, the Camden Waterfront, Collingswood and Haddonfield, and a stopping point in Lindenwold that gives you easy access to Atlantic City; its gives you plenty of eclectic travel destinations that are worth the visit. Grant it that there are a lot more slow downs given the track rehabilitation projects going on. But compared to the heinous waiting times that I've endured with Septa throughout the years its next to nothing. read more

Maybe it's this hangover. Maybe it's because I'm afraid of falling off the bridge. Maybe it's because of this bullshiz that the DRPA does constantly: http://www.examiner.com/libertarian-in-philadelphia/delaware-river-port-authority-continues-culture-of-corruption But I effing can't stand PATCO. I appreciate the cheap ride into Philly so that's the extra star, but if parking wasn't $11/day, I would much rather drive in. The cars are almost always filthy...garbage is strewn about in the seats...some days you literally cannot see out of the windows because they are so coated in dirt. Their "schedule" is hilarious...due to frequent breakdowns, it is impossible for them to stick to it. Also, because of these breakdowns, you end up with trains running 2 minutes apart during rush hour, one stuffed to the gills waddling down the track, the next completely empty. If you are looking for a train outside of rush hour, good luck, as they run an hour apart. Good luck holding onto that buzz you worked on on a Saturday night while standing underground with no cell service for an hour. It's super awesome. And sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll dribble down the track from Ferry to Collingswood. They blow their horns to deafen us...I know some do it purely to make us crazy because some conductors will just do a little "beep! beep!' as they go by if they are an express train. Others make me feel like I'm end scening on LOST: "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!" I get it...you're not stopping. I promise I won't stand close to the ledge and pop in front of the train. Oh...and they wait until the first warm day to turn the gotdamn heat on while you're waiting for a train. read more

PATCO - My view today. Stuck on the tracks. 10 minutes and counting. - Train Stations Near Me - Lindenwold, New Jersey

PATCO is a workhorse. I would love to know how many commuters go through this station, but I know it must be a lot. PATCO is fast, inexpensive, and dependable. And free parking is provided (unless you want to park in a specific lot with closer spaces during prime time). The train cars are mostly old- from the 70s- but this isn't a long ride in a luxury rail line, and they are kept in working condition, so I can't really complain. Best, cheapest, fastest way to get from Camden County to Center City- period. read more

I've been riding PATCO for the past 9 months and it has progressively gotten worse. Trains are never on schedule. There are constant cancellations due to equipment issues. All of this occurs during rush hour going into and back from the city everyday. The trains are consistently packed like sardines cans due to the cancellation. You're better off driving and paying for parking rather than deal with PATCO. read more

Why isn't the "last car is the quiet car" rule enforced? The same two people get on every morning and talk talk talk! I could scream! I've written to patco on their website, but never heard back. read more

I enjoy taking the train to work but the Lindenwold stations have been smelling weird when you first walk in there during the morning. I noticed they have been propping the doors open the past week. Not sure what's going on...Also I guess they aren't doing the quite car anymore. read more

I've been a Patco user for many years now and figured that it's about time that I put in my two sense. I will both agree and disagree with many other reviews and will also outline what I feel can be the best possible Patco experience one can have. Pros: -Patco Freedom Card (can easily be loaded using the machines at the stations or online or have your balance checked) -Train comes every few minutes during peak times (M-F mornings and evenings) -Easy access to Rutgers University, Cooper Hospital, Camden City Hall as well as Old City and Center City Philadelphia -A good idea if you plan on partying in the city (I usually store the late night times in my phone so that I don't end up waiting a long time for a train late at night) -A train fare to Philly is close to $6. A bridge toll alone is $5, which does not include driving around aimlessly to find a spot, paying for parking or gas -You can go online and check their schedule as well as "special schedule" when they are doing trackwork -Parking in Philly can be a royal pain in the ass and Patco is a nice alternative Cons: -During off peak hours they are ALWAYS doing trackwork (I used to go to Rutgers and would sometimes miss the train at night because I had the scheduled train times but they would be off due to trackwork -You can only load a minimum of $20 onto your Patco card and you cannot pay for a single or round trip ticket using a credit or debit card (You must have cash) -The train only comes every 40 minutes during the night on weekends so plan accordingly! -Compared to some other trains I've been on in major cities (Boston & NYC), they are a bit outdated meaning they have yet to embrace the digital age (some electronic signs with updated train times would be nice) and the cars are exactly as they appear to be, which is 40 years old -Patco employees need to issue tickets to cars that take up more than one spot (depending on which station you go to, but I find this common at Lindenwold) I have been to almost every station on the Jersey side during almost any time of the day at some point and here is my take on them... Lindenwold-A bit shady, impossible to find parking that isn't a 10 minute walk during the week between the hours of 9AM and 2PM, spots are tight, people take up two spots (which also always seem to be much closer to the entrance), You're much better off driving the extra 5 mins to Ashland Ashland-clean, safe, ample parking, before 10AM you must pay $1 to park in the main lot ( a small fee compared to the stress you save v Lindenwold station), but you must also have a Freedom card in order to do this Woodcrest (good if you'e coming from Rt. 295, no complaints), Haddonfield (no complaints), Westmont & Collingswood (parking can be tight during peak hours but no other complaints), Ferry Ave, Broadway, City Hall (have never driven to any of these but Broadway and City Hall provide easy access to landmarks in Camden) So there you have it: Jeff's Official Guide to Successfully Navigating Patco. Hope this helps! read more

PATCO, from the French "pas des caux", meaning "to totally not suck". Okay, it doesn't mean that, but who cares? When you need to teleport into Philly from the Southern Suburban Jerz, this is the preferred method. Take 295 south, park at Woodcrest, pay your $3, and *poof*, you are magically transported. It is so much easier than swimming across the Delaware River, I tell you, and the Hepatitis C risk is way lower. Sit in front, next to the driver, and watch out the front window for an amazing view. If someone has already claimed that seat, throw them off the train using force, if necessary. It's worth the attending assault charge. read more

I've taken many train lines in my day and PATCO is really and truly up there with the best. It's a nice change to take a "speed line" that actually moves fast. You'd be surprised how many trains, subways, rails, and the like out there claim to be speed lines and instead run so inefficiently that one would be better off using a bus. With PATCO, I don't really need to look at a schedule. I know that I can arrive at my designated station during peak times/rush hours and if I see I just missed a train, that another train will be there in about 5 minutes. Even better, when PATCO anticipates delays (track work, medical emergencies, etc.), they make regular, clear announcements at each station indicating what the problem is, and when it will likely be fixed, and how much of a delay there will be. It isn't always foolproof, of course; sometimes a "10-15 minute delay" can really be more like 20-25, but they really do the best they can to be accurate. PATCO has made a lot of positive changes both to their trains and the stations and continue to make improvements. As with any train line, some stations are cleaner than others, some have more parking, some are more secure, but generally you will see PATCO employees and security at each station, and they actually know what they are doing and will help you. A PATCO oddity that out-of-area folks sometimes do not realize is that you have to swipe your ticket (or your Freedom card or PATCO Anywhere card) both when you go in and as you go out. You'd be surprised how many people forget this or don't know this and are confused when they try to exit and cannot. If you lose your ticket or card during your ride, there are phones you could use to call for help once you get to your station and get let out. A new addition to PATCO trains is the Quiet Car, which is typically the last car of each train and is in effect 24 hours a day Mondays through Fridays. I now try to use the Quiet Car each time I ride because it really does make my commute more peaceful. Be forewarned though: some people either don't care or don't read (or both?) and talk away in the Quiet Car. More often than not, though, these people are told to stop - and most actually listen! I'm thrilled PATCO exists. The thought of driving in to Philadelphia each day and paying for parking is just scary. I'm glad that I have a much better option as a commuter. read more

I disagree with the previous reviewer on several points. Since I"ve been on a number of public transit train systems(BART, CTA, MTA, Metro, SEPTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak), I will compare and contrast. Cleanliness: PATCO used to be really good about cleaning, almost on par with DC's Metro. There was a guy who used to be the designated car/train cleaner whenever a train got to Lindenwold Station. I"m not sure whether they fired that guy/got rid of his position, or hired someone who doesn't care as much. But the trains are not as clean as they used to be. That being said, they are still much cleaner than either the suck that is SEPTA or Chicago's CTA trains. Scheduling: During rush hour in the morning and at night, I've had few problems with the trains being on time. In the morning especially, the trains are within a minute of the posted time. Contrast that with SEPTA where they don't even bother to post a scheduled time. After rush hours,(especially at night due to construction) there have been changed to the schedule, but those are posted at the station and noted online at ridepatco.org. So if you don't know what time the train is coming, its because you didn't pay attention or check the schedule. As far as waiting an hour after midnight for a train, one has only to look at the complete lack of SEPTA train service after 12:30am. or the infrequent trains run by the CTA at those times to gain an appreciation for PATCO. An infrequent train beats no train hands down. As far as lack of cell phone service, its UNDERGROUND. Of course it isn't going to get cell phone signals well if at all. People who ride the train late at night need to learn how to adapt ie. bring a book, buy a magazine or newspaper at a late night Wawa, or bring an mp3/PVP/PMP and listen/watch your own music/videos instead of beef for 45 minutes about how boring a wait it is. Security: There is some police presence, though most of the time I see more cops at night. Which generally is a good thing, since most of the crackpots and/or substance abusers tend to act up then(Which still isn't very often, especially when compared to the Broad St line or Market/Frankford lines). I do wish they had more cops on the bar car (2am) that runs on Fri and Sat night. Customer service: PATCO beats SEPTA hands down here. The people that work for PATCO actually care about helping their commuters, not doing crossword puzzles , texting, or talking to friends. The first time I got off at PATCO I heard a customer service representative say "Have a nice night" as I was leaving. I was shocked, but I've grown to like that. Contrast that with the surliness and/or complete lack of caring that SEPTA workers by in large have. Ticket purchasing: This is an area where PATCO could get better. If you buy a computer chip enabled Freedom Card you can easily load your card and get it loaded by your employer. However, PATCO refuses to let you load under 20 bucks on it in cash. Also those paper tickets frequently jam in the turnstyles/card readers because people that use them(especially on the weekend) don't always keep them straight/unbended. Though sometimes the readers jam even if you keep the card pristine. So new readers or a new system would be nice. It's not the Metro but its still a decent train system, all things considered. read more

Why can't SEPTA be exactly like PATCO? I tentatively used PATCO for the first time last weekend expecting SEPTA's little brother but was instead fully impressed! The ticketing was efficient, well-thought out, and although more expensive than SEPTA, it's on a variable-rate basis. You can also pay by credit, debit, or fill up your card on the internet. Just be sure to keep your ticket. The trains themselves were old but had some sort of 60s nostalgic charm to them. They were clean, though. This is more than I can say about either the el or subway. The stations were also clean and not confusing in anyway. Not only that, but it was quick. I went to the website and although they use flash for the maps for no good reason, I could see that they come every 20 minutes on the weekend. Apparently, they come every 4 minutes during morning rush on weekdays. More impressive, the trains run 24 hours a day. Try that SEPTA. So the real question is, why can't SEPTA be like this? Does New Jersey state fund PATCO? Where does the money come from? Higher fares? I'm completely mystified... read more

For us, PATCO is a easier on the wallet, gas saving, and drunk driving avoidance mechanism. We like PATCO, it gets us to and from Philly safely and usually without any delays. The PATCO smartphone app for scheduling has been accurate. We usually utilize the Westmont and Collingswood stations. PATCO's uniformed Transit Ambassadors at night time are a welcomed presence, keeping an eye things. If you are a frequent PATCO user or plan on being one, it may be a good idea to use the FREEDOM Smart Card. Or at the very least, make sure you have exact change or smaller bills. Otherwise, if you put say a $20.00 bill into the ticket dispensing machine, you will be given a bunch of those gold looking shekels for change. (you know, the coins that are supposed to be legal tender/currency and must be accepted by any merchant in the USA but often result in getting the stink eye when trying to use them to pay for something). That is all for now. read more

When I hit the lottery, do you know the first thing I'll do? I won't be going on a lavish shopping spree. I won't be purchasing a chateau in Paris or mansion in Malibu, either. I'm hiring a chauffeur because I LOATHE driving. And until that fine day comes, I'll settle for PATCO to get me where I gotta go. The total trip from end to end (Lindenwold, NJ to 16th & Locust St. in Philly) and back again costs only $4.70. From a number of stops you can connect to other modes of public transportation like NJ Transit to Atlantic City or Septa's Broad Street Line. The bi-state area is your oyster. How simple is that? A Freedom Card makes those trips even less painless since you don't have to wait in line during rush hour to buy a ticket. You just purchase a card once (for a $5 fee) and reload with $20-$150 as needed. By the way, this is the only time you can use a credit card to buy your way on. You better have some small billage on-hand because if you dump 20 bones in there you're gonna get a crap-load of Sacajawea's back. read more

PATCO has done a lot to improve their image and your overall ridership. The freedom cards are great, allowing me to fill the thing up and always have it ready, no worries about change or tokens. As Michelle C noted, the iPhone app works great, and is much more handy than non-existent paper schedule they (supposedly) used to hand out. It's fast, getting me from any of three local stations to the heart of the city in under thirty minutes, and for the most part, folks are pleasant. Cons would be the ancient looking trains with random levels of cleanliness depending on what time of day you ride them and what events are going on in town. Some of the stations are pretty sketchy and they could take a hint from DC and provide cellular/wifi repeaters in the underground stations, as well as a real 'next train arriving in' monitor. read more

Since becoming a Philly-suburbanite 7 years ago, I have used PATCO a few times. I agree the ticketing system could be better, especially when putting in a twenty for one roundtrip, and receiving 15-dollar coins as your change. The Philly bartenders HATE getting their tips in coins (as would I). The last time I used Patco was to meet my sister, who lives in So. Philly, for drinks at El Vez. A nice short walk to El Vez from the 12th-Locust stop, so when I got a little tipsy at happy hour, it was a nice short walk back. However, just a note: If you get on at Haddonfield, then want to get off at Woodcrest, it costs a few cents extra. ( My husband picked me up there b/c it is closer to our house.) I only discovered this after trying to go through the turnstyle a few times to no avail. Thank goodness when I went to pick up the red phone, a nice worker came out to tell me that. He also let me use the locked public (?) restroom that is in the station. That helped tremendously! read more

I think PATCO is swell. Yeah, I've ridden on better systems in Canada or Europe (DC is great too) but this is a pretty darn good high speed rail line from the Jersey burbs to center city Philly. Pros: I have yet to experience a late train other than once when a guy fell unconscious on the tracks at one of the stations and, like, I dunno, this one other time I don't really remember. If you are a freedom card holder it's a snap to get in and out of the stations and to refresh your cards value. Its way speedier than any other public transit into the city (from Jersey) if you live near enough to one of the stations. I have found the train cars to be clean enough to suit my tastes - usually only the odd newspaper or occasional soda bottle on one of the seats. They said they were going to start replacing the train cars but I kinda like the retro guacamole color scheme and the stainless steel "trainy" outside. I think the price is decent. I always feel safe in the stations, well lit parking lots and on the trains since there seems to be decent security folks (the port authority which owns the system has their own police force.) The staff on and off the trains have always been surprisingly pleasant to me. There's a nice lady who works rush hours at my station who is there to say hello and goodbye to everyone and help anyone who has a problem with their ticket or whatnot. Cons: Only a very limited number of the stations are handicapped accessible (elevators - since all stations are either above or below ground level) which I'm sure limits a lot of people's ability to utilize the line. I wonder how they get around the people with disabilities act in this regard but im sure there is some sort of loophole. It also is a super pain if you want to take your bike or a "granny cart" style shopping thingy with you, both of which I often want to do. The stations, especially on the Philly side, are usually quite dirty! Stick to standing up or sitting on one of the metal benches if you can get one - do not ever consider sitting on the floor - even if you are returning from a bender in the city; just steady yourself against a pole and try not to tip over. My little niece asked me why there was water on the stairs and I had to tell her it definitely was not water and definitely not to step in the puddle with her fliflops. I guess dirty stations in urban areas are not a particularly unexpected thing though, if they wanted to do one major thing to improve the line, it would be to increase the cleanliness quotient inside the stations. In most of the stations they have these posters that say renovations are being done on all the stations. The photos of what the stations are going to look like is all sleek and shiny. These signs have been up for years and there is not a single station that even remotely resembles the ones on the posters. The escalator in my station has been broken for about two months!!! Every day someone replaces the notice that says the escalator is being repaired because someone has scribbled some sarcastic (but true) funny statement about the situation. So, as an option to get into and out of the city its speedy, its cheap, its not gross and its convenient. In fact, I picked my current apartment partly based on how close it was to the PATCO station. During rush hour the cars are pretty packed so a lot of other folks must agree that its well worth it to take the train every day to and from work so it can't be all that bad. In fact, its usually quite pleasant! read more

It gets me to Joisey when I need to use it. Relatively timely, inexpensive, fast and (somewhat) safe. Needs help with the cleaniliness of stations and train cars. read more

Yes, PATCO is a great way to commute to to Philly and an even better way to get sloshed in the city and get home safely. I never really had (too many) problems with PATCO and the trains and stations are usually well-kept. I would have to agree that the Lindenwold station is sketch; if you have any valuables in your car or you are driving a Civic/Accord you probably shouldn't park there. Otherwise this line is great. No annoying transfers and you are let free right by all the action. read more

Patco generally runs on schedule and seems to work reasonably well. Weekends are pretty chill and it gets me to my lessons. The only minuses are getting dollar coins back as change from the ticket machines, and also looking like an idiot if you put your ticket in the gate the wrong way. read more

Oh, Patco... you're great for what you are- a cheap, reliable way to get back and forth from south jersey to Philadelphia. And the concept of the quiet car is a great addition for those riders who don't feel like listening to the other passenger's music or conversations. (I say that I like the concept, but I personally don't like the quiet car. It's too quiet and I find myself just wanting to giggle uncontrollably, but that's just me). But with that said, you desperately need updating. Every car smells and feels dirty, there's ripped seats, I even cut my elbow once on the grate underneath the window that was busted. So please, my dear Patco, invest a little bit of the $6 you get every day from people and put it into upgrading your cars. read more

I can't complain about the PATCO, though a round trip from Philly to farther parts in NJ are very expensive. However, it's fairly reliable (even in blizzards) and gets thousands to and from daily. If anything, it could switch to a better payment system and have cleaner stations. I must say, I was on the train once in the summer of 2007 when an explosion occurred one car behind mine. Then, a fire broke out, and I had to walk through the subterranean Camden landscape. It was not my favorite PATCO moment, but it's definitely the most memorable-- minus one star there. read more

PATCO is the best urban train line I have ever been on. It's on time, fast (those trains don't stop for nothing), and clean. A little automated voice tells you what stop you're approaching and the stations themselves are clearly labeled. And the high-tech ticketing! No tokens, no card-swiping. There are these little circles that just magically detect the presence of your card when you hold it up and deduct the proper amount. I felt like a nincompoop the first time I used it, having no idea what I was supposed to do, but now I love it. read more

Heather works third shift and has honestly been one of the least available customer service reps I've ever seen. The lines made changes without notice even when I'm using a screenshot of the most updated schedule. She then did not pick up when called saying she would let me in free of charge read more

Train times can be off by a few minutes but all in all they run to schedule. Never had any big delays and I have been using this line to travel into Philly for 4 years now. The trains are decently clean, it's public transport it will only be so clean. read more

Other transit systems could learn a thing or two from Patco. It runs 24/7, it usually is pretty clean and it usually is on time. The late 60s era cars are going out for rebuild and interior updating so soon the fake wood grain and split pea soup green interiors will be a thing of the past. When one considers the cost of crossing the bridge and paying to park in the city the fares are very reasonable. My only major complaint are the "emergency trackwork schedules" posted on weekends without an iota of trackwork being done - what is the true purpose of these schedules? The individuals who handle the text and email alerts could use some internet and English lessons - one day I received four blank messages from Patco Alerts. read more

Patco reuses its entry/exit farecards. That may not sound like a big deal, but can you imagine the NYC subway without the Metrocard litter that seems to cover every surface? Exactly. What a wonderful world it could be. read more

This is the best way to get to/from Philly. I've only used it for leisure so I never had to deal with the rush hour group or buy the Freedom card for commuting. Parking's free and plentiful. Roundtrip fare to Center City is under $5! I also never have to use a schedule because the westbound trains come every 10 minutes or so in the late afternoon, about every 15-20 minutes late evening when returning to NJ. And they run 24/7. It's also not as crowded or smelly like the SEPTA. This is THE best in commuter rail transit, in all of the US probably. read more

Efficient public transportation? In MY Delaware Valley?? Even though I'm on the Philly side (more people coming here in the morning than going over to Jersey, so it can be a pain when you seen 5 cars on one side for every 1 on the other) PATCO has almost never failed me. I love the Freedom Card and the fact that you can register it, in case it gets lost or stolen. You can also use your balance to buy SEPTA transfers. One of my personal reasons for loving PATCO is that most the riders are usually more civil that what I'm used to in Philly. (which is even more surprising considering my heavy usage of the Camden stations) My cell phone was recovered on a train the day after I lost it, and the man who found it texted one of my friends and left it at the lost & found. I have never had anything returned to me on SEPTA. ;) read more

I take PATCO on almost a pretty regular basis since I live in Philly and my boyfriend lives in South Jersey, and I have to say there has never been a time when PATCO has ever disappointed me, even during rush hour. So, Lauren Mistress of the Märzen, what's so great about it, you ask? Let's start with the efficiency. Every time I take PATCO, the trains are always running on or close to schedule. The only time one did not, I was already on the train and sitting on the Ben Franklin bridge for 20 minutes, due to a fire on the tracks. Sounds stressful, but really not so much - because the operator told us immediately what the problem was, and throughout the duration, a PATCO employee popped in and out of each car to assure us everything was fine and to ask if we were okay. Then there's the fare system - totally self-explanatory and self-sufficient and MODERN. Next are the employees. I have never encountered one who was unpleasant. They're really very cheerful and helpful. Then there's the quiet car. PATCO recently put in a place a "quiet car" system which means that 24/7, on the last car on each train, noise is prohibited. That's right, my friends! No talking, no loud music, no screaming children, no cell phones. Although, really, every car is in its own way a quiet car since PATCO passengers (ya know, Jersey People) pretty much know how to act (and because PATCO is not afraid to lay the smackdown if people are being asshats). Oh, and, I must not forget - it's CLEAN! My only suggestion? This would be to female passengers waiting for trains in Jersey on cold days. We know it's cold, but for the love of Pete, please STOP STANDING IN THE DOORWAYS AND STAIRWELLS AND MAKING IT HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET ON THE PLATFORM TO GET THERE! I guess they think they'll die if they stand in the cold for 5 minutes? But overall, not bad. Not too shabby at all. Two thumbs up. read more

I've been taking it since the 80s and it's way better than it was prior. I now am a daily rider over the last month. It's awesome being able to use a share freedom card to get between Patco and Septa. I love it, it's so convenient. I have the regular shared card for the paid parking so I park up front of the different stations. My only pet peeve is the escalators not working and Ashland station looking completely horrible. Ashland makes the Broadway station look like Disney World. I also love the great supervisors that greet you every day. It makes me feel secure, and they upped their turnstyle security to keep jumpers/wild folks at bay. read more

as someone having recently moved to this area from Florida, where public transport sucks, i gotta say PATCO is awesome!! 24 hr service connecting the Dirty Jerz to the cosmopolitis of Philly, great! service seems very reliable and the stations are pretty clean, in comparison to say the New York subway, which is filthy and seems to always be undergoing maintenance.. I have extensively used subway systems all over the World, and PATCO is pretty good! Importantly PATCO is FAST!!! the "high speedline" name is the truth! I wish the stations had restrooms and drinking fountains, but virtually no subway systems anywhere provide that, presumably due to both security reasons and the expense of cleaning them. The Lindenwold station does have restrooms, but they are only open on weekdays during the daytime. read more

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Ehh, when I'm going into the city, it's cheaper than driving. The trains smell like urine, there are shady people around, but no one bothers you, for the most part. The biggest issue I have is their odd schedule, which...never is on schedule. If you're in a peak period, you can get a train every few minutes. If you're off-peak, you might stand on the platform for an hour or more, waiting. Depending on what's going on, I'll usually just drive in, now. I don't commute, so it's not like it's huge expense, and I can just park wherever I want. As for security/police presence, the only time I have ever seen cops around are at Woodcrest, the one place you DON'T need them. In the stations in Philly or Camden, there are never cops, and I've never seen any riding the train. I'm 6'2" and 260 pounds, and even I've been made a little nervous by the people that hang out on the platforms. read more

I used to live near the Lindenwold station when I was a kid. It's a great way to get into Philly quickly. Weird thing is, this train has the best sound, especially when it is slowing down coming into the station or speeding up leaving it. I can't describe it, but it's different from any other train. I imagine it may drive most people living within earshot of the station nuts, but I always liked it. read more