During the day, the William H. Gray 30th Street Station has that typical train station busyness…read more The station is nice because the SEPTA regional train is connected. Amtrak tickets get a free SEPTA transfer to City Center (simply scan your ticket at the fare gate, entering and exiting). I needed assistance figuring out which train to take, and a staff member was readily available to advise to get me to my city destination. I also came here in the wee hours of the morning for a late night/early morning train. It's open 24/7 (with proof of ticket), and an officer did come around to verify that visitors had train tickets while waiting in the station. Only the 30th Street entrance is open between 1am-4am. I arrived a little before 1am, but the entrance doors on the other streets were already locked. It was a nice, quiet, and safe place to wait overnight. There's benches (with outlets) to stay charged while you wait. And there's WiFi! It was quite drafty on the benches - I guess they don't want you falling asleep! There was security present. An unruly guest was yelling and causing trouble, and the police asked him to leave. Gate entrances are clearly labeled and there's adequate screens around the station, including a giant screen for train information in the middle of the hall by the desk agents. They do have a food court here but it's currently under renovation. There were a few vending machines (the farmer's fridge type) for light bites. Bathrooms could have been cleaner. When I stopped by to use, half were shutdown due to cleaning in progress. The other half were typical public transportation, public restroom cleanliness... not great (looked like these were still waiting to be cleaned). While I waited, staff were cleaning up the train station. The floors were being polished, and even the benches were being dusted. They put in the work to keep it nice (at least in the main hall area), and it shows.

BLUF: A true transportation hub for Amtrak, SEPTA and NJ Transit in a lovely historical, circa…read more1930s art deco building. I am always so happy to see historical buildings saved, especially when it comes to trains. The demolition of NYC's Penn Station for Madison Square Garden is a travesty that hurts my heart so I appreciate that this station, which was once a station for the Pennsylvania Railroad, is still in tact. However, the station is showing some wear and tear and would benefit from a facelift. With Philly hosting FIFA World Class Soccer, the MLB All Star games and other events for America's 250th, I thought maybe there would be some renovations to the station. Unfortunately, the food court is closed so the only options for food and drinks are Dunkin Donuts and a newspaper stand. There is an ongoing renovation but I can't tell exactly what has been done. i will say, it was nice to see the station from about a block away - the exterior is lovely. The trains all board under the station so it's convenient that you don't have to walk too far to get on your train like you would at a stub-end station. For those needing assistance, Amtrak offers a "Red Cap" service. Getting down the escalators and down the platform can be a bit of survival of the fittest so asking for help will get you escorted down the elevator to your train car without battling the masses. Red Cap will also take care of your bags. The waiting room is large as are the bathrooms. They also have some nice exhibits about the station and its artwork. I'm looking forward to returning to see how the renovations turned out. I am hoping that the food court will reopen and maybe even offer some local eateries.

It's a SEPTA station... what can you REALLY expect? It's definitely not as bad as some, but not…read morefabulous either. SEPTA Key machines are available for fare purchases & adding money to your Key Cards. One person usually works in the booth, but that's it. Again, SEPTA subway station, so keep your expectations low.

How a subway train can be so unreliable is beyond me. Other subway systems show the time of arrival…read moreon display, some have a countdown to the next train... Septa still uses tokens and can't give you change for a $5.

One of the busier stations on the PATCO line due to its location on one of the major streets in…read moreCenter City. Great connections to other Philly transportation lines, but if you want to see Reading Terminal Market or do shopping, this is the stop. Heading into NJ, this is usually the stop where the most people get on. Luckily I'm usually on board before then, so I have a better chance of a seat than those boarding here.

Get off at this stop if you're visiting Market East, City Hall, or Old City. It's not my preferred…read morestop but it is often the most convenient when visiting from New Jersey. You can also link to the Broad Street Spur or the El here. If you're out late at night on a weekend, you can expect massive crowds. I can't begin to tell you how many times drunken people heading back across the bridge have casually walked into me without apology while I waited for the train. For this reason, I prefer the other stations -- in particular 15/16 and Locust -- much more. Otherwise, this spot is decent. I'm glad it exists, but I wish it could undergo a remodel. It needs one desperately.

Um you guys what's with the hate ? This place has a transit gift store. Do you know how amazing…read morethis was for my transit obsessed son?? I mean he knows all the freaking trains and stops in Boston. When he knew we were traveling to a new city he had an agenda : ride the subway trains and buy the subway trains. AT THIS PLACE YOU CAN DO BOTH. There is even a trolley on the bottom floor that you can climb in and pretend to drive. At Christmas it was nicely decorated too. I don't think he will ever forget. We bought a bus , a girard green trolley and a subway (which happens to be the market line) We are enablers. If you are a train enthusiast , they sell $$$ model trains. And mugs that say I love trains ! And lots of other things. Oh and they have Thomas trains and a train table. I can't believe this place exists. MBTA get with the program.

It's fine, just another train station. It's ascetically pleasing - very pretty and well doneread more

I've actually had decent experiences using the trolleys - especially when the Blue line…read more(Market/Frankford El) ain't workin'. I take the trolleys from 15th Street to 390th usually and not much else - plus during rush hour there are more of the trolley than there are of the El. And you can get out to West Philly easily. they also have a blue flashing "warning light" to let you know not to go down there if the light is flashing. (Wish the Broad Street line had something similar.). I am a BIG proponent of public transportantion and while it is easy (oh, so very easy) to criticize SEPTA - I think the trolley line it a great, great thing. Please improve the Orange and Blue lines and clean up the stations. And make token machines (better yet - switch to a swipe-card system like every other modern city {suppoedly in the works}) available at all stations. (I can not believe the Race/Vine station has no place to buy tokens - but that is the subject for another review(). the green line? It's running pretty well.

Always add an extra 15 minutes to your commute time if you're taking septa.... because this place…read morewill never fail to fail you -incompetent workers - machines that dont work - never (and I mean never) on time - dirty and smelly trains - rude employees - dumb employees - late employees - slow employees - curt employees And im sitting here writing this because I missed my (late) subway because of a machine that wouldn't work and when asked for help I got the back of a lazy employee.

Hey, it's Patco. If you are heading towards NJ, this is the second stop on the route, which means…read moreif you hop on in the after work crush, you are more likely than not to at least get a seat. But at least once or twice a month, maybe if there's been train delays or especially bad weather, you might find yourself having to stand. Sometimes there is a staff member near the ticket gates yelling out when the next train is coming, which is helpful. Sometimes it smells a bit pissy near the entrances. The downside is that if it rains, the 12th St. south entrance floods and unless you are wearing waterproof shoes, it's really not accessible. For up to 2 days! The staff really should do something about that. Otherwise you have to cross the street to access PATCO.

I'll never forget the first time I visited this station. I was 21, it was late summer, and I was…read morestill slightly terrified of the city after a sheltered life in the suburbs. I was taking PATCO alone for the second time ever and meeting a friend nearby. I was so nervous that I somehow bypassed the 13th Street exit and kept walking. Hardly anyone was around but eventually I emerged at 15th Street...and had to run back a few blocks to meet my friend. It never occurred to me to turn back around. Times have changed and over the years I've used PATCO quite a bit. No matter, I still often double-check my steps when I leave this specific platform, which is probably silly and paranoid at this point. This is the second to last stop westbound, and it's conveniently situated in Washington Square West. You can also link up to the BSL here. I recommend having a Freedom Card if you frequent the city at all. I tend to see long lines purchasing tickets at the kiosks...but especially at this station.

It's a fine stop. Handicap accessible which is nice, and can't be said for all the stops!read more

A station along the MFL/L line. And that's one of the problems--they're renaming the line, but…read morethere are references to both the old and the new names. Area around this station is sketchy. Lots of beggars and drug dealers.

Sure, everyone in this city knows Septa sucks. Sure, it's…read morebetter than it used to be... but in comparison to EVERY other large city transit system it lags. Sure, this station is ( relatively) clean. Sure, most Septa employees enjoy letting you know how little they care. Sure ... this is the " Fashion District" ... Man, I laugh every time I see that sign. #Primark

I am a budget traveler. When it comes to inflation, I look for alternative transportation. I…read moreusually rent a car from the airport. But not during car shortage. I chose train from the airport to Philadelphia Chinatown. This was a nice treat for me. I love how organized the signage and helpful employees to make sure I was not lost. The train arrival time on the display seem to be accurate to the minute. My first-time arriving Jefferson Station was trying to leave the platform after seeing so many exits. I used my GPS to direct me to the correct street for my final destination. Then, I asked a police officer on the street level to confirm my location. My second visit was me leaving town to the airport. I asked a gate person how to enter the terminal. She was super nice. No issues here. I just had to remember to lift my luggage so I don't get stuck in the turnstile to cause any embarrassing scene.

Traveling by train was a pretty awesome experience! I took the first stop for the Empire Service…read morefrom Buffalo, New York to New York City, where I changed trains, taking the Silver Meteor/Palmetto to Charleston, SC. It was an 8 hour ride to NY City. The scenery along the Hudson river was beautiful. The seat was pretty wide & had plenty of legroom. There was a pull down tray you could use for food or a laptop. My travel pocket tray cover which I use in airplanes fit perfectly over it too. Getting around in Penn Station was crazy. If you have anxiety, it will be overwhelming. It took me a bit to figure everything out. I didn't realize I should have checked my large bag, because I had purchased a roomette box car for the next 14 hours of my journey. I figured if I got some good sleep, my day would begin well since I was arriving at 4:30 a.m. The roomette car fits two people directly across from each other. However, I imagine if my husband would have been directly across from me, I would have had barely any legroom. The roomette has a personal toilet right next to your seat, a pulldown sink, and a pulldown bed overhead for at night. I did sleep really well from 10 o'clock till about 2 o'clock, then there was a huge storm and the train tracks were uneven, and the car shook so bad it felt like it was going to fall off the tracks. After a bit it settled down and so did I. The train came in an hour late for arrival so we got there an hour later which actually worked out great because it made it 5:30 a.m. in the morning instead of 4:30 a.m. in the morning. You should tip your room attendant, mine was very attentive, as she discovered that it was my first time on a train like this, and I had no idea that I was supposed to check my huge bag. So she found a place to store it for me since if I kept it in my car, I wouldn't even be able to put my legs down on the floor. I did have dinner in the diner car and I was paired with another single traveler. We had a great conversation and the food was much better than plane food! I had salmon and it was served with a side of spicy rice and green beans & a complimentary glass of wine. The dessert was a piece of chocolate cake which I took back to my room for later. Overall, this was such a fun and exciting new way to travel for me. It was scheduled as part of my vacation. So I wasn't rushed. I didn't have to wait in an airport for two hours beforehand, and I was able to see scenery that few people get to view. The seat was so much more comfortable than an airplane seat, I actually wonder why people even fly at all. I can't wait to try the Pacific Coast train as I hear the views are just stunning! That's next on my list of things to do! P.S. Pack some Clorox wipes to wipe everything down, I don't think they clean much, jut like in a plane.

The building is easy to navigate and has signs and announcements of arriving trains and departures…read more Walked around and found everything you'll need from restrooms, Metropolitan lounge, ride share, rental cars, tickets, food court (currently under construction), customer service desk, buses, etc. We've enjoyed our stay in Philadelphia and the city of brotherly love.

Depending on which way you are going, this is either the first stop of the line or the last…read morestation! Convenient if you need to go near Rittenhouse Square. I had a bit of a problem looking for the entrance - I am used to looking for the entrance on the corner, but the entrance I found was a bit farther down. Just look for the giant round green sign. Below, it's a bit busier than other Patco stations due to the connections with other public transportation. You're almost always guaranteed a seat during busy periods since this is the first stop.

Of all the Philly PATCO stops, 15-16th station is my favorite…read more It's not quite as obnoxiously crowded as 8th and Market, and if you miss the train (which I do, all of the GD time!), another train will appear shortly. On weekends, they sit here even longer. You're basically guaranteed a seat when you hop on here, even if it's a sardine car. I find it generally better to sit inside of the train while I wait for it to head to Jersey rather than wait for it to arrive on the platform. Creepy people have a way of finding me and this holds true in PATCO stations. If I'm standing away from the crowd, some dude will invariably come up and hover in my personal space while staring me down. Go away, yes? But anyway, this station has ample entrances in the vicinity and the payment kiosks always seem to work. It's a good and easy transport option if you're heading across the river.