Tuesday, August 20 2024
Those who live in PA see this train as somewhat of an anomaly—we’ve heard of it, but never really used it. This train, which isn’t even part of SEPTA, is The Port Authority Transit Corporation Speedline, or PATCO. PATCO is a heavy rail rapid transit system that served the Philadelphia metropolitan area since the mid-20th century. It connects Center City with the suburbs of South Jersey and operates a service on its right of way as a regional rail subway hybrid. Running distances are similar to that of regional rail, but frequencies are similar to those of the subway.
The birth of PATCO starts in the 1920s, with the growing need for reliable transportation between Philadelphia and New Jersey. The 1920s also saw the construction of the Delaware River Bridge (now known as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge), improving traffic flow between Philadelphia and South Jersey. Still, it quickly became evident that a more efficient mass transit solution was needed to accommodate the increasing number of commuters.
Construction of PATCO began in the early 1960s, making it a much younger counterpart to SEPTA’s existing system. The project involved building new tracks and adapting existing infrastructure, using the Benjamin Franklin Bridge for trains to cross the Delaware River.
The system officially opened on January 4, 1969, with its initial route stretching 14 miles from Lindenwold to Center City. It was an immediate success, providing commuters with a quick and convenient way to travel between the suburbs and the city—showing us the possibilities that come with frequent, reliable, high-quality transit infrastructure (SEPTA, maybe take note).
PATCO underwent several phases of modernization in the 1970s and 1980s, during which time the line saw new stations added to meet growing demand and the introduction of automatic fare collection and modern signals. Today, environmental initiatives, such as reducing the system's carbon footprint, are prioritized, along with the reopening of Franklin Square Station, serving the Chinatown Area and the neighborhoods at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Maybe SEPTA should take a few notes.
Bibliography
nycsubway.org: SEPTA Broad Street Subway. (n.d.). https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/SEPTA_Broad_Street_Subway#:~:text=The%20subway%20under%20Broad%20Street,Market%20was%20operational%20in%201932.
Broad Street Line – Philadelphia Transit Vehicles. (n.d.). https://philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/broadstreetline/
The Broad Street Subway – PhillyHistory Blog. (n.d.). https://blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2007/01/the-broad-street-subway/
nycsubway.org: Broad Street Subway News (1915-1931). (n.d.).
Tropes, C. T. T. (2024, July 27). UsefulNotes / Philadelphia Subways. TV Tropes. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/PhiladelphiaSubways
Cmires. (2022). Subways and Elevated Lines. Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/subways-and-elevated-lines/
Subway, R. B. (n.d.). Roosevelt Boulevard Subway. Roosevelt Boulevard Subway. https://blvdsubway.com/
Althouse, M. (2024, March 8). Recent funding gives boost to Roosevelt Boulevard subway momentum. PhillyVoice. https://www.phillyvoice.com/roosevelt-boulevard-subway-update-route-for-change/
Kyriakodis, H. (2019, September 3). Ghosts Of The Abandoned Arch Street Subway Line. Hidden City Philadelphia. https://hiddencityphila.org/2018/04/ghosts-of-the-abandoned-arch-street-subway-line/
PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) Speedline. (n.d.). http://www.ridepatco.org/
DRPA | PATCO Transit Line. (n.d.). https://www.drpa.org/patco/
Maria, M. (2022, March 11). PATCO. Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/patco/
Purvis, G. (2022). The history of PATCO, as viewed from the train. rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu. https://doi.org/10.7282/t3-a7qb-4272
nycsubway.org: PATCO High-Speed Line. (n.d.). https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/PATCO_High-Speed_Line
PATCO. (n.d.). http://www.ridepatco.org/about/trackrehabilitation.html
Vittek, S. (2019, February 14). Celebrating 50 Years of the PATCO Speedline. New Jersey Monthly. https://njmonthly.com/articles/historic-jersey/patco-celebrates-50-years/
Staff, C. P. (2020, January 16). Here’s a look at the PATCO Hi-Speedline through the years. https://www.courierpostonline.com/picture-gallery/travel/2020/01/16/patco-hi-speedline-through-years-photo-gallery/4455086002/
Comments