The PATCO Speedline, also known as the Lindenwold Line or PATCO High Speed Line, is a rapid transit route operated by the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO). It connects Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Camden County, New Jersey. The line runs underground in Philadelphia, crosses the Delaware River via the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, continues underground in Camden, and then operates above ground to Lindenwold, New Jersey. Owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority, it opened in 1969 and operates 24 hours a day. In 2023, it recorded 5,452,000 rides, averaging about 18,000 rides per weekday in early 2024.

The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), a division of the Delaware River Port Authority, operates this rapid transit line from Philadelphia to Lindenwold, New Jersey.  This line is state of the art with Automatic Train Operation, and it was the first system to use the magnetic fare card system, which is currently being replaced by a new “Freedom” system.

PATCO started off as the “Bridge Line” in July of 1936, running over the Benjamin Franklin

bridge into Camden, New Jersey.  The tracks for this line actually connected to SEPTA’s Broad Ridge Line near 8th and Market Street Station, where trains would go North to Girard Station.  Today the tracks are severed, but you can still see the connection point to the PATCO system.

In February of 1969, service was extended to Lindenwold, NJ.  New cars from Budd were put into service for the line in 1968, making PATCO the first transit line to use Automatic Train Operation.  In 1980, Woodcrest Station opened, and cars nearly identical to the Budds, built by Canadian Vickers, were delivered in as well.

Today, PATCO still strives to be cutting edge.  Although the cars are the same, PATCO has rehabilitating their entire fleet with a federal grant they received.  They were retrofitted AC traction motors and a modern blue/grey interior.  All cars were rehabbed.

Also, PATCO is introduced a new “Freedom Card” system.  This is a touch less smart card system, where riders are able to purchase and use debit-card like Freedom cards to pay their fares.  Also, the old plastic magnetic cards were replaced with new paper tickets with magnetic strips.  Now, every station has a machine and special Freedom gates installed.  More information about the freedom card program can be found here: http://www.ridepatco.org/freedom.asp

Additionally, PATCO is also conducting a study of the feasibility of extending service to Gloucester County.  This study will take 18 to 24 months.  As if that wasn’t enough, they are studying the feasibility of creating a waterfront light rail line along Columbus Boulevard in Philadelphia.  More information about both of these projects can be found at these websites:

New Jersey Expansion: http://www.patconjexpansion.com

Pennsylvania Expansion: http://www.patcopaexpansion.com

 Rail Fleet Roster (click for pics)

PATCO operates a fleet of 121 cars from both Budd and Canadian Vickers.  These cars are 67′ 6″ long, 10 ft wide, and have two doors on each side.  They also use roll signs on the ends of the cars, and light up board signs on the sides (similar to the B-IV cars on the Broad Street Line). The fleet is currently being completely rebuilt by Alstom. The Rebuild is intended to extend each cars life by 25 years.

Year	Manufacturer	Model	Fleet
1968	101-125	Budd	Single
1968	201-250	Budd	Married
1980	251-296	Canadian Vickers	Married