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Stranded Travelers Program Passenger/Visitor Assistance 30th Street Station
FAQ

Travel Tips

30th Street Station: Holiday Travel Tips

« Return to 30th Street Station Passenger Assistance Booth

Quick Tips

  1. Ask, Ask, and Ask! Stop at the Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia Booth in the Central Concourse of the Station to have your questions answered. Or call the Booth for information and advice — 215-395-6183. The Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia Web Site www.TAPhilly.org also has a wealth of travel information.
  2. Arrive ½ hour ahead of time for Amtrak Trains to print out your Boarding Pass and get a good seat, longer if you need to check baggage. Remember, your must have Photo ID to ride Amtrak and reservations are recommended.
  3. It's the Economy. Travel to NYC by Bus out of 30th Street Station for as little as $10 one way on Megabus and Boltbus, or by NJ Transit train via SEPTA R7 to Trenton for $20.50 one way.
  4. Take the SEPTA R1 line to the Airport for only $6. The R1 arrives and departs twice every hour and takes only 22 minutes. Stops at every gate. Avoid the parking costs and congestion at the Airport.
  5. 30th Street Station is congested outside and there is ongoing street construction. When picking up passengers, park at short-term meters on the 30th Street side of the Station, and come in and meet them at the Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia Booth. Bring quarters; only 7 ½ minutes for each quarter.
  6. It is easy to become confused at the Station. Don't just drop passengers off at the Station if they are not familiar with it. Especially elderly, disabled, or nervous travelers. Park, bring them inside, and ask Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia for assistance.

More Information

30th Street Station is a transportation hub for Amtrak, SEPTA Regional Rail, New Jersey Transit Rail, and four Bus lines (Beiber, Megabus, Boltbus, and Fullerton Bus). Useful information and tips in using these intercity ground transportation lines at the Station are listed below:

PARKING

  1. Temporary parking is available on the 30th Street side of the Station. It costs a quarter for each 7 ½ minutes. It is strictly enforced. Change machines are available within the Station.
  2. Metered Street parking is available on JFK Boulevard (between 30th and 32nd Streets) and on Market Street for 25 cents for 15 minutes. Free on Sundays.
  3. Long Term surface parking is located on JFK Boulevard between 30th and 32nd Streets.
  4. A Long Term parking Ramp is located behind the Station (on Arch Street)

AMTRAK

  1. All Amtrak trains arrive and depart on tracks located below the Central Concourse of the Station. There are 10 marked Stairways (1 through 10) going down to the Tracks. The Amtrak Information Board in the middle of the Central Concourse will list the Stairway from which your train will depart in the last column of the Board usually within 15 to 30 minutes of departure. (Trains can leave from any of the 10 Tracks).
  2. Departing Passengers must wait at the top of the designated Stairway with their tickets and photo-ID before being allowed to go down to the tracks (Arriving passengers are first let off the train and come up the escalator before the escalator is reversed and Departing passengers can go down to the tracks).
  3. Arrive at the Station at least ½ hour before your train is scheduled to depart to allow time to print out your Boarding Pass, buy items from shops, determine your Stairway location, and line up for the train.
  4. Arrive at the Station 45 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart if you will be checking luggage with the Red Cap Service that is located behind Stairway 5.
  5. Amtrak Ticket agents are located behind Stairway 3.
  6. Temporary Baggage Storage is located behind Stairway 1.

SEPTA REGIONAL RAIL

  1. The R1 Line goes to the Philadelphia International Airport. It leaves at 04 and 34 minutes after each hour and stops at each airport gate. It takes 22 minutes to reach the airport and costs $6. It usually arrives and departs from Track 6.
  2. The R7 Line goes to Trenton, where passengers transfer onto NJ Transit Trains to go to north to the Newark Airport and New York City (Penn Station). The R7 Train usually arrives and departs from Track 4. It costs $ 20.50 one way from Philadelphia to NYC.

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT

  1. NJ Transit trains leave the Amtrak Station approximately every 2 hours for Atlantic City and points between. The fare to Atlantic City is $8. Tickets must be purchased from a NJ Transit Vending Machine located near the Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia Booth.
  2. NJ Transit trains for the northern part of the state are accessed at the Trenton Transportation Center via the SEPTA R1 Train. These NJ Transit trains are much cheaper than Amtrak trains and go to many more points in the state. NJ Transit tickets can be purchased from vending machines, one by the Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia Booth and one at the SEPTA Station. There is also a NJ Transit ticket booth at Suburban Station.

REGIONAL BUS LINES

  1. There are now low-cost, high quality bus lines between 30th Street Station and Penn Station NYC. The Boltbus and the Megabus depart form 30th Street Station every 1 to 2 hours. Fares vary so check the Web (Boltbus.com and Megabus.com) or call them for prices and schedules. Reservations are recommended. Pricing at approximately $10-15 one-way.
  2. The Beiber Bus line goes to Quakertown, Allentown, and Reading from 30th Street Station. This is an established regional carrier with prices competitive with Greyhound.

« Return to 30th Street Station Passenger Assistance Booth

©2010 Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia • 111 N. 49 St. • Philadelphia, PA 19139 • 215-471-9475