Smooth Commute Early On Mass Transit For Papal Visit
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. (CBS/AP) -- SEPTA had been making plans for the weekend of the Pope's visit to Philadelphia for several months, but on Saturday morning it was showtime! With so many roads and highways closed, taking the train seemed to be way to get into the city.
Passengers arrived at the Fort Washington train station, showed pre-purchased passes, and then waited for trains that would take them directly to Jefferson Station. Rosemary and her family got up at five o'clock in the morning to get one of the first trains out -- and she had a plan.
"Be mobilized, get off the train, and get as quickly as we can to the seats and the area that we are entitled to as the tickets that we have," she said. "Get up there in front and get yourself situated."
SEPTA sold more than 5,000 passes for this station for this day, but lines at the Fort Washington train station were never very long and the trains were never filled to capacity. On a normal day there are only 167 passengers that get onboard.
As for PATCO riders, transit officials in southern New Jersey say they are running their Philadelphia-bound trains more often and with stops at all their open stations in response to lower-than-expected demand during the papal visit.
PATCO officials say trains are running from Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Ferry Avenue and Broadway into Philadelphia every 10 minutes. Trains had been scheduled every 16 minutes.
And trains are now stopping at each of those stations rather than operating only on an express basis to the one open Philadelphia station, 9th and 10th and Locust streets.
PATCO officials say they are prepared to revert back to their original plans if demand increases.
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