SEPTA readies to ring in New Year with extended hours

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A holiday week is a happening week on SEPTA Regional Rail Lines.

The platforms were packed Tuesday with people off work and out and about. Some are already on the way to their New Year's Eve destinations.

"I am actually headed to meet up with my brother and we are headed to Berlin for New Year's," said Lindsey Wayland of West Chester.

After the fireworks and that final toast, SEPTA's ready to transport riders after they ring in the New Year, with extra trains running right into the morning hours. Typically, most lines stop at midnight.

"So what we've done is added trips on most of our regional rail lines. A total of 11 trips," said Andrew Busch, Septa. "Those will be departing Center City between 1 and 2 a.m. early Friday morning."

The Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines will run all night. And SEPTA's added early morning inbound trains from Trenton to accommodate revelers returning from New York on Friday.

"It's definitely a good thing. I remember riding last year and it was a little bit of chaos so having more trains is definitely going to be better for New Years," said Wayland.

Not everyone's going out to celebrate.

"I am going to stay home with my family and enjoy them instead of going out in the craziness," said Brian Bortnick of Bensalem.

But for those who do partake, SEPTA's modified its schedule to help keep them safe.

"If you're drinking a little bit, it's always good for them to hop on the train," said Lisa Esprit of Chestnut Hill. "Get the train home and it will let them off at their stop."

So before you start celebrating, check the schedule and find the final train which on many of those regional rail lines will run between 1 and 2 a.m.

SEPTA posted the following information to their website:

Full New Year's travel information is posted online at http://www.septa.org. Below is a summary of SEPTA's holiday service plan.

Thursday, Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve: SEPTA will operate enhanced late-evening schedules on the Broad Street Line, Market Frankford Line, and Regional Rail to accommodate New Years' Eve travel. A special customer guide is now available online at: http://www.septa.org/events/nye-service.html :

Extra trains will operate on the Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines starting at 7:05 p.m. for travel to the fireworks displays at Penn's Landing.

Broad Street and Market Frankford Line trains will operate overnight service Dec. 31 into Jan 1.

Additional late-night trips have been added on most Regional Rail lines. Schedules have been posted at stations and online at: http://www.septa.org/events/pdf/2015-12-rrd-nye.pdf. Parking at all SEPTA-owned Regional Rail lots will be free after 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.

The Market Street/Convention Center entrance to Jefferson Station will remain open until 2 a.m. to accommodate customers returning from New Year's Eve fireworks.

Regional Rail ticket windows at 30th Street, Suburban, and Jefferson Stations will remain open until 2 a.m., and then reopen at 6 a.m. Jan. 1.

Friday, Jan. 1

All SEPTA services will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

Trains on the Broad Street Line will operate every 8-10 minutes from 8 a.m. until at least 6 p.m. to accommodate travel to and from the Mummers Parade.

Most Bus Routes operating around City Hall and South Broad Street will be on detour due to the parade. Riders are encouraged to check the System Status page at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status/system-status.shtml before travel.

Saturday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 3: All SEPTA services will operate on normal weekend service schedules.

Monday, Jan. 4, 2016: Normal weekday service schedules resume on all SEPTA services.