US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - PHL septa fares? info please

Hi everyone, will be in Philly later this month. Can someone please fill me in on how much the Septa train from the airport to 30th Street costs? the website says by zone, but says nothing about what's in what zones. (?)

Also 30th Street Station to WIlmington (DE) is what zone fare?

All I know is that is it between 3 and 7 dollars during peak time. Thats all I know. Can someone fill me in please? thanks

And if anyone wants to know Cleveland train fares, I'd be glad to help

Thanks
Alexis
cle

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oh, and on a US note, they briefly matched wn on its phl-sat DING fare. But my company already bought co.

SEPTA regional rail fare cost by zone is here: http://www.septa.org/fares/train_tickets.html

The R1 Airport from any of the airport terminals to Center City (which includes 30th Street) is a zone 5 ticket that's "special" in that it's always an on-peak fare, and costs $5.50. To compare, a taxi from the airport to Center City is a fixed $20, maybe $25 come July 1 if a proposed fare increase gets approved.

Also, if it helps, the system map is here: http://www.septa.org/maps/click_map.html From there you can click on the station you want and it'll give you the zone and the on/off peak fares.

As to schedules, they are here: http://www.septa.org/service/rr_schedules.html and are PDFs of the actual printed schedules you can find in the stations.

If you're trying to get from PHL to Wilmington, ask the conductor after boarding at the airport to give you a ticket all the way to your final destination, which is on the R2 Wilmington in zone 4. You can also transfer from the R1 Airport to the R2 Marcus Hook/Wilmington/Newark line at University City station without having to go to 30th Street, however this may or may not save you time depending upon the schedules, and 30th Street is a much "fuller service" station, not to mention one of the more architecturally attractive train stations in the country. Just be sure the R2 train you're boarding actually goes all the way to Wilmington - many of them terminate at Marcus Hook, two stops north of Wilmington with a fair distance in between. There is a food court in the Amtrak section of 30th if you have a layover.

SEPTA is by far the cheapest option, but if the SEPTA schedules don't work out well and you're short on time, I would take an airport shuttle, such as the Delaware Airport Express (http://www.delexpress.com/ - call/book ahead), which should run a little more than $40 after tip. Taxi will probably be a little north of $50-55 if you're going into the city of Wilmington, $45-50 to the neighborhoods of North Wilmington. You can also take the R1 SEPTA to 30th and get a coach seat on Amtrak for probably $25-30 depending upon the train. You can buy tickets at 30th. Amtrak is non-stop between 30th and Wilmington.

I ride the R2 to Center City on those rare occasions when I'm actually in town, and although it doesn't have the most frequent service compared to some of the other lines, it's generally been OK for me. Most delays on the line happen during rush hour and are tied to track renewal construction that Amtrak, who owns and also uses the tracks, has been doing for a while.

DE Express is the way to go, the fare from PHL-Wilmington is $41.30 with tip.

If you use their shared ride van service, after claiming your bags look for the ground transportation desk, pick up one of the phones dial 24 and take a ticket from the machine next to the phones. The person who anwsers will ask for your last name or confirmation number and the ticket number. Then after you hang up with DE Express tell the person behind the desk your number the company picking you up and your last name and they will call your number when the van arrives.

That simple.

Dan

What is the tip for?

It is normally standard practice to tip drivers of airport shuttles. If they're doing a good job and handling your luggage for you, a buck or two per bag is customary. At least, this is what I've been practicing for 10 years.

I think that's stupid, so I don't do it.