Is it true that the PATCO Speedline operates 24 hours a day? It is indeed one of the few U.S. mass transit systems to do so. The PATCO Speedline also known as the Lindenwold Line is a rapid transit route. It is operated by the Port Authority Transit Corporation. PATCO runs between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden County, New Jersey.
The PATCO Speedline runs underground in Philadelphia. It crosses the Delaware River on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Then it runs underground in Camden. Finally it runs above ground to Lindenwold, New Jersey. The Delaware River Port Authority owns and operates the PATCO Speedline. The line opened between Lindenwold and Camden on January 4 1969. The full line to Philadelphia opened on February 15 1969.
Let’s delve into its history. The PATCO Speedline follows the route of historical railroad lines. Some lines date back to the 19th century. These railroads terminated in Camden. Passengers could catch ferries to Philadelphia. In 1919 Pennsylvania and New Jersey formed a commission. It was to build a bridge between the two cities. The Delaware River Bridge now the Benjamin Franklin Bridge was designed for rail and road traffic. The bridge opened in 1926. It included space for rail.
Construction of the rail line began in 1932. The Bridge Line opened in 1936. It had four stations. These were 8th Street and Franklin Square in Philadelphia plus City Hall and Broadway in Camden. The line connected to the Broad-Ridge Spur in Philadelphia. An underground tunnel running south and west had been started in 1917. This 8th–Locust Street subway was completed but not outfitted for service in 1933. In 1949 Bridge Line and Ridge Spur services were through-routed.
Construction on the 8th–Locust Street subway resumed in 1950. Bridge Line service was extended to 15–16th & Locust station in 1953. This section is owned by Philadelphia and leased by PATCO.
Despite the extension ridership was limited. Fares were high. The line did not extend east of Camden. In 1954 off-peak service again began operating between Girard and Camden. This was due to low ridership. A shuttle train operated between 8th and 16th stations. By 1962 only 1900 daily passengers boarded west of 8th Street.
To facilitate extensions in New Jersey the Delaware River Joint Commission became the Delaware River Port Authority in 1951. The agency commissioned a study for rapid transit in South Jersey. The report recommended building a new tunnel and three lines in New Jersey. A later study suggested using the Bridge Line instead.
In August 1968 the Ridge Spur was connected to a new terminal platform at 8th Street station. This allowed conversion of the Bridge Line. Bridge Line service was split into two segments during the conversion. Service from Lindenwold to Camden began on January 4 1969. Full service into Philadelphia began on February 15 1969.
An infill park and ride station Woodcrest was added in 1980. In 2005 PATCO officials began planning a new route to Gloucester County. In 2021 Philadelphia proposed a westward PATCO expansion to University City.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the line operated limited service. Certain stations were bypassed. These stations reopened in September 2020.
PATCO originally operated 121 cars. The original cars were manufactured in 1968. The PATCO II cars were delivered in 1980. Refurbishment of the entire fleet began in 2009. The first rebuilt cars were redelivered in 2013. The refurbishment included a new interior and more reliable systems.
PATCO was one of the first systems to use automatic train operation. The system uses cab signaling. Operators are required to take control in precipitation. Trains operate at a maximum of 65 mph on the surface portion.
PATCO runs trains in 2 4 or 6-car configurations. All stations can handle 7 or 8-car trains. Since December 2019 4-car late night trains operate every 60 minutes. City Hall station in Camden and 9/10th & Locust station in Philadelphia are closed overnight.
PATCO trains are governed by a pulse code cab signaling system. The entire system is run from Center Tower in Camden. Power comes from a third rail at 750 V DC.
PATCO was one of the first systems to use automated fare collection. It uses smart cards and magnetic stripe paper cards.