Look, crossing the river from Philadelphia into Jersey isn’t exactly a grand odyssey, but if you’ve ever sat staring at the brake lights on the Ben Franklin Bridge at 5:15 PM, you know it can feel like one. Taking the Philly to New Jersey train is basically a rite of passage for anyone living in the Delaware Valley. It’s how we get to concerts at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, how commuters save their sanity, and how people get to the Shore without paying $20 for parking.
But here is the thing.
People always talk about "the train" like it’s one single thing. It isn't. Depending on where you are standing in Center City, your experience is going to be wildly different. You might end up on a high-speed PATCO car that smells like 1974, or a massive double-decker NJ Transit train headed toward Trenton. If you get them mixed up, you’re going to have a bad time.
The PATCO Speedline: The Workhorse No One Ever Cleans (But Everyone Loves)
If you are looking for the most common Philly to New Jersey train, you are looking for PATCO. It’s officially the Port Authority Transit Corporation, but literally nobody calls it that. It’s just PATCO.
It runs 24/7. Seriously. Even at 3:00 AM on a Tuesday, there is a train coming to take you from 15th and Locust over to Lindenwold.
The stations in Philly are underground and, honestly, a bit grim. They’ve got that specific damp concrete smell. But the efficiency is hard to argue with. You tap your FREEDOM card—or now, thankfully, your phone or contactless credit card—and you’re on. The train climbs up onto the Ben Franklin Bridge, and for about ninety seconds, you get the absolute best view of the Philadelphia skyline. It’s worth the price of admission alone.
Then you’re in Jersey.
Camden is the first stop. If you’re going to a show at the Waterfront, you get off at City Hall or Broadway. Broadway is a massive transit hub where the PATCO meets the River Line (the light rail that goes up to Trenton). It’s busy, it’s loud, and there’s usually someone playing music without headphones.
Most people staying on the train are headed further out. Collingswood, Westmont, and Haddonfield are the "big three" stops for Philly people who realized they couldn't afford a three-bedroom in Fishtown anymore. These towns are walkable, have great food, and the train gets you back to 13th and Locust in about 15 to 20 minutes. It's faster than driving. Way faster.
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NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Line: The Gamble
Now, if you want a different kind of Philly to New Jersey train experience, you head to 30th Street Station.
This is where things get "official." You aren't on a subway-style car anymore; you’re on a real-deal commuter train. The Atlantic City Line (ACL) is NJ Transit’s weird stepchild. It doesn't run nearly as often as PATCO—sometimes there are two-hour gaps between trains—but it’s the only way to get to the coast without a car.
The route is interesting. It stops in Cherry Hill, Lindenwold (where you can transfer to PATCO), Atco, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City, and Absecon.
Hammonton is the "Blueberry Capital of the World," and in the summer, you can actually smell the fields if the windows were the kind that opened (they aren't). This train is usually filled with a mix of two groups: elderly folks headed to the casinos with rolls of quarters (okay, maybe cards now) and teenagers from the suburbs trying to get to the beach.
The downside? Reliability.
NJ Transit has been plagued by engineer shortages and equipment issues for years. If the ACL breaks down, you are stuck in the middle of the Pine Barrens. There is no "next train" in ten minutes. You’re waiting. But when it works, it’s a relaxing hour-and-a-half ride that drops you right at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
The Secret Northward Route: Getting to Jersey via Trenton
Sometimes, when people search for a Philly to New Jersey train, they actually mean they’re trying to get to North Jersey or New York.
You take the SEPTA Trenton Line from 30th Street or Suburban Station. It’s a 50-minute crawl through places like Bridesburg and Cornwells Heights. Once you hit the Trenton Transit Center, you walk across the platform and hop on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line.
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This is the artery of the East Coast.
It’s efficient but soul-crushing during rush hour. You’ll pass through Princeton Junction, New Brunswick, and Newark before hitting Penn Station. It’s not a "scenic" ride. It’s a "I need to get to my meeting in Jersey City" ride.
The Cost of Doing Business
Let’s talk money because that’s why most people skip the Uber.
- PATCO: It’s distance-based. A ride from Center City to the end of the line in Lindenwold is $3.00. If you’re just going to Camden, it’s $1.40. It’s the best deal in the city.
- NJ Transit Atlantic City Line: A one-way ticket from Philly to AC will set you back about $10.75.
- The Trenton Connection: SEPTA to Trenton is about $6.75 (if you have a Key card), and then the NJ Transit leg to somewhere like New Brunswick is another $14 or so.
Pricing adds up, but when you factor in the $5.00 bridge toll and the $20-40 you’ll pay for parking in Jersey City or Atlantic City, the train wins every single time.
Why the "River Line" is the Hidden Gem
Most Philly locals forget the River Line exists because you can't catch it in Philly. You have to take PATCO to the Broadway station in Camden and transfer.
The River Line is a light rail. It feels more like a European tram. It runs along the river through towns like Riverton, Beverly, and Burlington. It is incredibly cheap (about $1.60) and surprisingly clean. If you want to visit a brewery in Burlington or go to the Burlington County Fairgrounds, this is how you do it. It’s slow—it stops every few blocks, it feels like—but it’s a smooth ride.
Realities of the Commute
It isn't all skyline views and cheap tickets.
The infrastructure is old. The SEPTA-to-NJ-Transit transfer in Trenton is notorious for "the sprint." That’s when your SEPTA train is running four minutes late, and you see your NJ Transit connection sitting across the platform with its doors about to close. You will see grown men in suits sprinting like Olympic athletes to make that gap.
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Also, safety is a common question.
PATCO is generally fine, especially during commuting hours. Late at night, the stations in North Camden can be isolated. Just keep your wits about you. 30th Street Station is heavily policed and generally very safe, though it has its share of people experiencing homelessness looking for warmth in the winter.
Technical Tips for the Smart Traveler
If you’re going to navigate the Philly to New Jersey train system like a local, you need the right tools.
- Download the Apps: Do not try to buy paper tickets. Download the NJ Transit app and the SEPTA app. For PATCO, just use your Apple Wallet or Google Pay at the gate.
- The "Lindenwold Trap": If you are taking the train to a concert in Camden, do not accidentally stay on until Lindenwold. You’ll be 20 minutes past the venue in a parking lot.
- Check the "Quiet Car": On NJ Transit (the big trains), the first or last car is usually a designated Quiet Car. Don't be the person taking a Zoom call there. You will get stared down by a regular who has been doing this commute since 1992.
Looking Ahead: The Glassboro-Camden Line
There has been talk for decades about a new train line—the GCL. It would connect Glassboro (Rowan University) to Camden, basically opening up a whole new corridor of Jersey to Philly transit.
Is it happening?
Sort of. It’s in the "environmental impact and endless meetings" stage. For now, if you’re in Glassboro, you’re still stuck on the 400-series buses. But the fact that people are fighting for it shows just how much we rely on these rail links.
The bridge is a bottleneck. The train is a release valve.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
If you’re planning to head across the river today, here is the move:
- Check the PATCO schedule online before you leave the house; they run "leaf peeper" or "snow" schedules sometimes that can add 5-10 minutes to your wait.
- Load at least $10 onto your transit account so you aren't fumbling at a kiosk while the train is pulling in.
- Verify your station. If you’re going to Jersey City, go to 30th Street. If you’re going to a bar in Collingswood, go to the PATCO stations on Locust St.
- Avoid the 5:00 PM rush if you actually want a seat. If you have to travel then, walk to the very end of the platform. Most people crowd the stairs, meaning the first and last cars of the train are usually half-empty.
Taking the train isn't just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about avoiding the rage of I-676 and actually getting to look at the river instead of the bumper in front of you. It's a bit gritty, it's a bit loud, but it's the heartbeat of how this region actually moves.