SEPTA adding subway stations for papal visit

SEPTA is doubling the number of Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line stations that will be open the weekend of Pope Francis' visit to the city.

Stations that will now be opened include 8th Street and 34th Street on the Market Frankford Line, the agency said.

Asked if it would now consider stopping at 8th and Market, PATCO, whose trains are now scheduled to operate only via its 10th and Locust Streets station, said, "We continue to monitor and consider all options available for the upcoming papal visit."

SEPTA said it was adding the stations in response to public demand.

SEPTA provided this updated service plan for the two lines.

- Market-Frankford Line Eastbound Express Service: Will run from 69th Street Transportation Center directly to 30th Street Station. These same trains will then continue with local service, stopping at 8th Street Station, 2nd Street Station; Girard Station; Huntingdon Station; Allegheny Station; Erie-Torresdale Station; Arrott Transportation Center; and Frankford Transportation Center.

- Market-Frankford Line Eastbound Local Service: Trains will originate at 60th Street Station, with stops at 52nd Street Station; 34th Street Station; 30th Street; 8th Street; 2nd Street; Girard; Huntingdon; Allegheny; Erie-Torresdale; Arrott Transportation Center; and Frankford Transportation Center.

- Market-Frankford Line Westbound Express Service: Trips will operate from Frankford Transportation Center directly to 2nd Street, then continue with Local service to 8th Street; 30th Street; 34th Street; 52nd Street; 60th Street; and 69th Street Transportation Center.

- Market-Frankford Line Westbound Local Service: Trips will originate at Arrott Transportation Center, with stops at Erie-Torresdale; Allegheny; Huntingdon; Girard; 2nd Street; 8th Street; 30th Street; 34th Street; 52nd Street; 60th Street; and 69th Street Transportation Center.

- Broad Street Line Northbound Express Service: Trains will run from AT&T Station directly to Walnut-Locust Station. These trains will continue with Local service to Spring Garden Station; Cecil B. Moore Station; North Philadelphia Station; Erie Station; Olney Transportation Center; and Fern Rock Transportation Center.

- Broad Street Line Northbound Local Service: Trains will operate from Snyder Station to Walnut-Locust; Spring Garden; Cecil B. Moore; North Philadelphia; Erie; Olney Transportation Center; and Fern Rock Transportation Center.

- Broad Street Line Southbound Express Service: Trains will run from Fern Rock Transportation Center directly to Spring Garden; these trains will continue with Local service to Walnut-Locust; Snyder; and AT&T Station.

- Broad Street Line Southbound Local Service: Trains will originate at Olney Transportation Center, with stops at Erie; North Philadelphia; Cecil B. Moore; Spring Garden; Walnut-Locust; Snyder; and AT&T Station.

Riders can use weekly and monthly passes and tokens as well as a special $10 Three-Day Papal Transit Pass ($5 for those who qualify for reduced fare) that will at will be valid for travel on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines, as well as buses and trolleys, between Saturday, Sept. 26 and Monday, Sept. 28. The passes are on sale at SEPTA sales locations.

Additional details can be found at SEPTA's Papal Visit web page http://www.septa.org/papalvisitphilly.

Passholder Credits

SEPTA in the meantime said it will will offer a credit toward a future pass for those who have purchased September monthly passes or will buy weekly passes that include the weekend of Sept. 26-27.

Purchasers of monthly TrailPasses or TransPasses for September will be eligible for a $5 one-time credit on the purchase of an October, November or December monthly pass.

Weekly TransPass customers who purchased a Sept. 21 weekly pass will be eligible to receive a $2 credit. Those with Sept. 21 weekly TrailPasses from all zones can receive a $10 credit.

The one-time credits for weekly passes can be applied to a week of the customer's choosing through the end of December.

Customers must turn in their old passes when purchasing a new pass to get the credit.