Which Is The Main Amtrak Station in Philadelphia?

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30th Street Station is the third largest Amtrak train station in the United States (after New York Penn Station and Union Station Washington DC). In addition to Amtrak, 30th Street Station is also the most important train station for SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). Philadelphia has two other large train stations, the Suburban Station and the Jefferson Station). All the SEPTA regional trains stop at this station. In addition, the SEPTA Trolly line and the SEPTA Market-Frankford subway lines also have stops at the corner of 30th Street and Market Street. The New Jersey Transit Atlantic City line also starts at the 30th Street Station.

Center City Philadelphia (or downtown Philadelphia) is the area between the Schuylkill and the Delaware Rivers. So technically the 30th Street Station is not in downtown Philadelphia but in the University City neighborhood. But for all practical purposes it serves as the main train station of downtown Philadelphia. The station is in fact right across the Schuylkill river from Center City.

When to use the 30th Street Station.

• 30th Street Station is conveniently located close to the following places in University City: University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, University City Science Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Penn Museum. You can walk to most of these places from 30th Street Station (except maybe the Science Center which is a short Uber ride from the station).

• If you want to take Amtrak, then 30th Street Station is the station that I would recommend. Some Amtrak trains also stop at the North Philadelphia Train Station (I have never felt very safe at the North Philly station and I normally avoid it). From 30th Street Station, you can take Amtrak and pretty much travel the length and breath of this country including to New York City. I take the Amtrak trains a lot for work. My favorite one is the Palmetto. One day I want to take it all the way to Savannah, Georgia. Even the coach class compartments are very spacious and I love the dinning.

• 30th Street Station is also very close to many Center City neighborhoods and attractions including, Rittenhouse Square, Schuylkill River Park, Franklin Institute and Logan Square. There are also several office and apartment buildings in this area. If the place you are going to is closer to City Hall, say Love Park, I would get off at the Suburban Station. If you are riding on Amtrak, you can get off at the 30th Street Station and take Uber to City Hall or the Market-Frankford subway line.

• If you want to go to Atlantic City for the weekend and you do not feel like driving, you can take the New Jersey Transit train from the 30th Street Station to Atlantic City. You can avoid all the tolls, the hassles of driving and reach AC all geared up for some gambling!

My Amtrak Acela train to Washington DC arriving on time!

• You can take the train to Philadelphia International Airport from 30th Street Station. You should go to the SEPTA ticket office inside the station and purchase a ticket to the International airport. The entrance to all the SEPTA trains are right next to the SEPTA ticketing office. To get to the SEPTA ticketing office, you have to walk towards the 30th Street side of the building and make a right. The train ride to the airport is a very short ride and the train will stop at all the airport terminals. You can also take a cab from the Amtrak station to the airport. A cab ride will cost you about $30 plus tips (It typically takes only about 15 minutes). A train ride will cost you under $10.

• I fly a lot on United. Most people do not know that 30th Street Station has an airport code that you can use while booking travel on United. The code is ZFV. Flying internationally from Newark (EWR) is much cheaper than flying from Philadelphia International (PHL). So for example, you can book a ticket from ZFV to CDG (Charles de Gaulle, Paris). The price quoted will include the airfare from the Newark to Paris and also the Amtrak train ticket from 30th Street Station to Newark Liberty International Airport. This train ride takes only about 50 minutes and the EWR train station is connected to the terminals by the air train.

Parking at 30th Street Station

30th Street has short term parking. You can also park for a short period of time near the taxi stand if you are picking up or dropping off someone. If you want to hire a cab, you have to head towards the Schuylkill Avenue side of the building. Uber and other ride share services are near the 30th Street side of the building.

Renting a car at the 30th Street Station

• You can rent cars from the 30th Street Station. It is cheaper to rent cars from the Philadelphia International Airport but you cannot beat the convenience.

• The car rental agencies are located at the same side of the lobby as the Amtrak ticketing offices. The rental cars are parked underneath the station and there is an escalator that you can take that will lead you to where the cars are parked (the escalator entrance is right in front of where the car rental agencies are located).

• You have to show the parking ticket when you exit the lot with your rental car. The rental car agencies will give you the ticket.

The main lobby area of the 30th Street Station is grand. The architecture is something to see. There is a bar, a food court, cafes and a few restaurants inside the station. During summer, you can spend some time drinking craft beer at the beer garden outside and at the same time enjoy a beautiful view of Center City Philadelphia.

Have you ever visited the 30th Street Station?

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