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Santa Arrives In Center City Aboard The Market-Frankford El

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Santa Claus arrived in Center City Friday.  But he was using a different form of transportation.

Santa Claus stepped off the Market-Frankford El at 15th Street to the cheers of dozens of children and a few commuters.  So where were the reindeer?

"Well, today I took the El.  We're going to have a busy day in about a month.  So I'm letting the reindeer get some rest and sleep in," said Santa.

Santa's ride was SEPTA's way of kicking off the holiday season.  Luke Profera of Catskill, New York watched Santa Claus arrive by train.

(DeNardo:) "So you think Santa has to pay the same fare that we all do, or does he have magical powers?"

"Magical powers!"

One thing Santa is not bringing Philadelphians is electronic fare collection.  A SEPTA spokesman says the rollout of that present won't arrive until early in the new year. 

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