9 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Text from PATCO:

 

 

DRPA: Starting 3/17, PATCO trains will run on a modified schedule in the interest of our riders & employees. http://ow.ly/5AAE50yNkVN

 

 

[KevinKorell]

 

 

 

 

 

                               Together, We Can Stay Healthy

 

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

As you are probably aware, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a flu-like disease that was first identified in December 2019. The CDC has issued a recommendation to stay informed as this virus has the potential to spread.

PATCO is closely monitoring official communications regarding this health issue and is taking appropriate measures as the situation surrounding the coronavirus develops.

As a precautionary measure, PATCO has taken the following steps to date:

• Maintaining an enhanced cleaning and sanitization of surfaces frequently touched in our stations and on our trains.
• Through an awareness campaign, promoting personal hygiene as the most effective way to prevent viral transmission.
• Increasing the inventory of our supplies of products and equipment parts to ensure we have sufficient quantities readily available.
• Reviewing continuity of operations plans to ensure we are able to continue to safely serve our customers.
• Participating in workshops with other agencies to share information and best practices about preventive measures and operational procedures.

While PATCO is taking these steps, it is important to note that one of the best ways to prevent viral transmission of respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases (the flu, colds, COVID-19, etc.) is to practice good hygiene, including:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time. Hand sanitizers may also be used to limit the spread of germs;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
• Cover your cough/sneeze;
• Avoid close contact with those that are sick or showing symptoms of illness; and
• Stay home if you are sick. This is as much for your benefit as those around you.

PATCO will continue to monitor developments and take appropriate action in consultation with public health authorities.

 

 

For additional coronavirus information, please visit the following websites:

• Centers for Disease Control
• New Jersey Department of Health
• Pennsylvania Department of Health

 

Good to know they are keeping the pay telephones clean.   Strange to know they even still exist.

[KevinKorell]

 

DRPA: Starting 3/18, trains will run every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. & 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. http://ow.ly/EIyP50yOmh2 nixle.us/BPNQN

[KevinKorell]

PATCO site updated:

 

Released:3/26/2020

 

PATCO Announces Temporary Station Closures and Additional Schedule Modifications

 

 

 

The changes support slowing spread of COVID-19, protect PATCO riders
& employees and are necessary to sustain the continuity of services

The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority. As the situation concerning COVID-19 continues to unfold, PATCO is monitoring and adjusting service as needed in order to promote the health and safety of its customers and employees. The adjustments meet the demands of current ridership and are necessary in order to sustain the continuity of service for essential riders.

Starting Saturday, March 28, 2020, four PATCO stations will temporarily close 24 hours a day and adjustments will be made to PATCO’s weekday and weekend schedules.

STATION CLOSURES:

The PATCO stations that will temporarily close during the current conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic are:

• Ashland (riders are encouraged to use the Lindenwold or Woodcrest Stations)
• Westmont (riders are encouraged to use the Haddonfield or Collingswood Stations)
• City Hall (riders are encouraged to use the Broadway Station)
• 12/13th & Locust St. (riders are encouraged to use the 9/10th or 15/16th & Locust St. Stations)
• Only the West Headhouse Entrance to the Broadway Station will close. (riders will be directed to use the Walter Rand Transportation Center entrance at Broadway Station)

The nine stations remaining open are Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Ferry Ave., Broadway (Walter Rand Transportation Center entrance open), 8th & Market, 9/10th & Locust St. and 15/16th & Locust St. Stations. These stations serve the greatest number of customers and enable PATCO to concentrate on sanitizing and law enforcement efforts.

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

In addition to the station closures, adjustments are also being made to PATCO’s weekday and weekend schedules. The following departure times will be in effect:

• Monday through Friday:
  • 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. – Trains every 60 minutes.
  • 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. – Trains every 30 minutes.
  • 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. – Trains every 20 minutes.
• Saturday:
  • 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. – Trains every 60 minutes.
  • 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. – Trains every 30 minutes.
• Sunday:
  • All day – Trains every 60 minutes.

Modified PATCO Timetable | Weekday & Weekend (Effective 3/28/20)


CUSTOMER SERVICE:

• Customer service is available 24/7/365 at (856) 772-6900.
• FREEDOM Card Service Centers:
  • Broadway Station Service Center will be open for calls and walkups on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Woodcrest Station Service Center is closed until further notice.

PATCO will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 developments and ridership levels and will make additional, real-time service adjustments as necessary.

For the latest service information, follow us on social media and sign up for our travel text alerts. For text alert details, visit RidePATCO.org/alerts

[CNJRoss]

Courier Post, Cherry Hill, NJ 3/26/20

PATCO closing four rail stations between Philly and South Jersey as ridership falls

 

 

CAMDEN – The PATCO HI-Speedline will close four of its 13 stations on its Philly-South Jersey rail line temporarily beginning Saturday, the agency announced Thursday afternoon.

 

SNIP

 

The following stations will close at 12:01 a.m. Saturday because of the expanding COVID-19 pandemic:

• Ashland (riders are encouraged to use the Lindenwold or Woodcrest Stations)
• Westmont (riders are encouraged to use the Haddonfield or Collingswood Stations)
• City Hall (riders are encouraged to use the Broadway Station)
• 12/13th & Locust St. (riders are encouraged to use the 9/10th or 15/16th & Locust St. Stations)

 

More here.

[KevinKorell]

PATCO press release 6/24/20:

 

Released:6/24/2020

 

PATCO Weekday Service Increases Again to Keep Pace with Increasing Ridership Demand

 

 

Trains will operate every 10 minutes during weekday rush hours starting June 29

LINDENWOLD, NJ - Starting Monday, June 29, 2020, PATCO will increase the frequency of weekday rush hour service with trains departing every 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes. The increase in service comes as ridership increases as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Ridership has increased to 18% of normal levels, up from 12% in the beginning of June and 8% from the start of the pandemic. PATCO will continue to monitor ridership and make additional, real-time service adjustments as necessary as ridership is expected to increase in the coming weeks as reopening phases continue.

PATCO Modified Timetable (Effective 6/29/20)

Schedule Overview

• Monday through Friday:
  • 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. – Trains every 60 minutes.
  • 4:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. – Trains every 20-30 minutes.
  • 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Trains every 10 minutes.
  • 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Trains every 15 minutes.
  • 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Trains every 10 minutes.
  • 6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. – Trains every 20 minutes.
• Saturday (No change):
  • 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. – Trains every 60 minutes.
  • 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. – Trains every 30 minutes.
• Sunday (No change):
  • All day – Trains every 60 minutes.

Station Closures Remain

On March 28, four PATCO stations temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These station closures continue at this time and include the following stations:

• Ashland (riders are encouraged to use the Lindenwold or Woodcrest Stations)
• Westmont (riders are encouraged to use the Haddonfield or Collingswood Stations)
• City Hall (riders are encouraged to use the Broadway Station)
• 12/13th & Locust St. (riders are encouraged to use the 9/10th or 15/16th & Locust St. Stations)
• Only the West Headhouse Entrance to the Broadway Station will close. (riders will be directed to use the Walter Rand Transportation Center entrance at Broadway Station)

The nine stations remaining open are Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Ferry Ave., Broadway (Walter Rand Transportation Center entrance open), 8th & Market, 9/10th & Locust St. and 15/16th & Locust St. Stations. These stations serve the greatest number of customers and enable PATCO to concentrate on cleaning and sanitizing efforts.


Customer Assistance

• Customer service is available 24/7/365 at (856) 772-6900.
• FREEDOM Card Service Centers:
  • Broadway Station Service Center will be open for calls and walkups on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Woodcrest Station Service Center is closed until further notice.

For the latest service information, follow us on social media and sign up for our travel text alerts. For text alert details, click here.

[KevinKorell]

Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, NJ, 9/9/20:

 

    Steady rise in PATCO ridership prompts reopening of South Jersey speedline stations  

 

 

 

The PATCO Hi-Speedline will reopen four rail  stations — three in South Jersey — and also increase overall train service effective Sept. 14, the transit agency announced Monday afternoon.

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

WHYY Radio, Philadelphia, PA, 12/22/20:

 

 

    PATCO still on track to reopen Franklin Square Station despite pandemic hit  

 

 

 

DRPA officials expected a $73.4 million surplus by year’s end in 2020. Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, and, like everyone else this year, they watched their progress crumble.

 

Story

 

Cross-posted in Coronavirus/PATCO and  Franklin Square station threads.

[KevinKorell]

PATCO website:

 

 

 

Released:5/27/2021

 

New Schedule Starts Saturday, June 5

 

 

 

A new PATCO schedule will go into effect on Saturday, June 5. The schedule continues to provide a high level of service with appropriate social distancing for customers based on current ridership statistics.

• Weekdays: Slight adjustments have been made to departure times and an additional eastbound departure was been added during the 4 p.m. rush hour.
• 
  
• Weekends: Departure times remain the same.
• 
  

To view the schedule, please click here.

[KevinKorell]

PATCO press release 4/19/22:

 

 

Press Releases          PATCO News & InformationReleased:4/19/2022

 

  Face Masks Optional on PATCO

 

 

Effective immediately, face masks are optional while riding PATCO. This change comes as a result of new guidance from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

PATCO encourages its customers to make decisions that are in their best interests and customers who wish to continue wearing face masks are welcome to do so.