Philadelphia’s transit system, run mostly by SEPTA, is one of the most complete in the country: subway, trolleys, buses, and a commuter rail network all under one roof, all covered by the same $2.90 fare. Tap a card and go — there’s no need to figure out zones or separate tickets for most trips.
The basics
Two subway lines form the backbone through Center City:
- Market-Frankford Line (“the El” or “the L”) — runs east–west from 69th Street Transit Center through Center City out to Frankford Transportation Center.
- Broad Street Line (“the B”) — runs north–south along Broad Street, connecting North Philadelphia to the stadiums in South Philly.
Around that, SEPTA runs trolleys (several lines run underground through Center City before surfacing in West Philadelphia and Delaware County), well over a hundred bus routes, and Regional Rail — 13 commuter lines that thread through Center City via Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and 30th Street Station, linking the suburbs to downtown. Across the river, PATCO’s Speedline is a separate rapid-transit system connecting Center City to Camden and Lindenwold, New Jersey — a different agency with its own fare.
How to pay
SEPTA uses SEPTA Key, a tap-to-ride system, plus contactless payment:
- Tap a contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay) at the fare gate, bus farebox, or Regional Rail platform validator. It charges the standard fare, and using the same card every time gets you free transfers (below).
- Get a SEPTA Key card ($4.95, refunded to your account if you register it at septakey.org within 30 days) from a fare kiosk at any subway station, or from SEPTA’s growing network of retail partners (grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores).
- Buy a paper Quick Trip ticket at a station kiosk for a single ride — no card needed, but no free transfers either.
- Pay cash on buses and trolleys (exact change — drivers can’t make change) or on board Regional Rail trains (at a surcharge over the Key/contactless fare).
The Market-Frankford and Broad Street Line stations use fare gates — SEPTA has been installing taller, glass fare gates system-wide to cut down on fare evasion. Regional Rail works more like proof-of-payment: you tap in and out at a platform validator or faregate, and conductors can check that you’ve tapped, but they can’t sell or open a fare for you on board.
Fares
A single ride is $2.90, the same whether you tap a Key card, tap contactless, or pay cash — but only Key and contactless riders get:
- Two free transfers between bus, trolley, and subway, as long as you tap the same card and stay within 2 hours of your first tap.
Reduced fares:
- Seniors (65+) ride free on all SEPTA service — bus, trolley, subway, and Regional Rail — within Pennsylvania, with a SEPTA Senior Fare Key card. Trips to or from New Jersey or Delaware stations are half fare.
- Riders with disabilities can apply for a SEPTA Reduced Fare card for half the standard fare, plus two free transfers on bus and Metro.
- Kids under 12 ride free with a paying adult.
Getting from the airport
Take the Airport Line, SEPTA’s Regional Rail route — it’s a direct, one-seat ride from the terminals into Center City, with stops at 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, and Temple University.
- Cost: $6.75 paying with a SEPTA Key card, or $8.75 paying cash or credit on board.
- How often: trains run about every 30 minutes.
- Stations at the airport: separate stops for Terminal A (East), Terminal B, Terminal C/D, Terminal E/F, and Eastwick — all wheelchair accessible.
SEPTA doesn’t publish an official travel time for the Airport Line, so this guide doesn’t quote one — budget accordingly.
Apps to download
- SEPTA app — the official app, relaunched in late 2024 with trip planning, real-time arrivals, service alerts, and the ability to manage your Key card.
- Transit — a solid third-party option for real-time arrivals and step-by-step directions across every SEPTA mode.
When it runs
SEPTA’s subway, trolley, and bus network runs daily, with the Market–Frankford Line particularly frequent — off-peak trains roughly every 6 minutes, more often at rush hour. Overnight, the subway lines stop running and SEPTA’s Owl bus network takes over the same corridors until early morning.
Accessibility
All SEPTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and more than 100 stations across the system have elevators — check SEPTA’s elevator status page or call the 24-hour elevator hotline (877-737-8248) before you travel if you rely on one. SEPTA Access (formerly CCT Connect) provides ADA door-to-door paratransit service by advance reservation for riders who can’t use fixed-route transit.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap in with the same card every time if you want your free transfers to actually work — mixing cards (or switching between Key and contactless) resets the clock.
- The Market-Frankford Line is called “the El” by locals (short for “elevated,” even though most of it runs underground through Center City) — don’t be confused if someone gives you directions using that name.
- Regional Rail conductors can verify you tapped in, but they can’t sell you a fare on board for most trips — tap before you get on.
Good to know
- Fare gates are becoming more common. SEPTA has been actively installing new, taller glass fare gates on the subway system to reduce fare evasion, so don’t expect the old-style low turnstiles at every station.
- SEPTA has been through a rocky budget stretch. A steep fare increase was proposed, briefly blocked by a court order, and ultimately implemented in September 2025 after the state stepped in with short-term funding — so if you see references to lower fares in older articles or reviews, the current $2.90 fare supersedes them.
- Keep your SEPTA Key registered at septakey.org — it protects your Travel Wallet balance if the card is lost, and gets you your $4.95 purchase fee back.