NJ Transit Announces Special Schedule for Pope's Visit

NJ Transit will not be operating on a normal weekend schedule when Pope Francis visits Philadelphia in September for the World Meeting of Families.

NJ Transit will offer limited special service on its Atlantic City Rail Line and River Line for people visiting the city to see the Pope on Sept. 26 and 27. Service is limited in an attempt to ensure crowds don’t exceed maximum capacity.

Special tickets for this service go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15, at noon, and all tickets will need to be purchased in advance. Riders must have a special event ticket pass to ride NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Rail Line and River Line that weekend.

Tickets will be on sale until they sell out, but no later than Friday, Sept. 25.

A total of 4,140 tickets will be available each day for rail service on the Atlantic City Rail Line to 30th Street Station on Saturday and Sunday. Round-trip tickets are $30, and up to four tickets can be purchased at a time.

There will be up to 1,875 available tickets for the River Line for each two-hour block of time between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. for a total of 7,500 tickets each day for Saturday and Sunday. Round-trip tickets are $5 each and up to four at a time can be purchased

No other fares, including monthly passes, Family SuperSaver or cash, will be accepted on those two lines.

“With nearly two million people expected to attend the World Meeting of Families and Papal visit in Philadelphia, NJ Transit will accommodate as many passengers as its system safely allows. Unfortunately, these safety and capacity limitations mean only a fraction of the anticipated passenger demand can be met,” NJ Transit Executive Director Ronnie Hakim said. “We have put forth a transportation plan that will get as many people as possible, as close as possible to Philadelphia, all with an eye on safety.

“It’s also important to note for people new to our system and especially our regular customers that this will not be a typical weekend travel experience, and we urge everyone to plan accordingly.”

The Atlantic City Rail Line will operate hourly trips from the Atlantic City Rail Terminal which will express to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia only beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and travel time is expected to last between 25 minutes and one hour.

The trains will not stop at Absecon, Egg Harbor City, Hammonton, Atco, Lindenwold, Cherry Hill, and Pennsauken.

The last train to leave Atlantic City bound for Philadelphia will be at 2 p.m.

No bicycles will be allowed on the Atlantic City Rail Line from Sept. 24-27.

River Line will offer limited service starting at 6 a.m. from Trenton, only making stops at Bordentown, Florence, Burlington South, Route 73/Pennsauken, Pennsauken Transit Center and the Walter Rand Transportation Center. Trains will not stop at Hamilton Ave., Cass Street, Roebling, Burlington Towne Centre, Beverly/Edgewater Park, Delanco, Riverside, Cinnaminson, Riverton, Palmyra, and 36th Street.

Trains will not go past the Walter Rand Transportation Center in downtown Camden due to expected crowded road conditions.

Service routes for Access Link customers will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Service will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

All buses that normally to Center City, Philadelphia will stop at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden. No special tickets will be needed. No bicycles will be allowed on buses from Sept. 24-27.

Extra bus service will operate on Route 419 which runs along the River Line between Burlington Towne Centre and Camden.

Enhanced service will be provided on Route 554 from Atlantic City to Lindenwold.

Riders are advised to expect long waits that weekend. The wait may be particularly long following the Papal Ceremony on Sunday.

Additionally, the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, to noon on Monday, Sept. 28.

Road closures are also planned, but Route 95 will be open.

Pope Francis will be arriving in Philadelphia on Saturday, Sept. 26.

His tentative itinerary includes:

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 8:40 a.m. Departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport
• 9:30 a.m. Arrival at Atlantic Aviation, Philadelphia
• 10:30 a.m. Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia
• 4:45 p.m. Visit to Independence Mall
• 7:30 p.m. Visit to the Festival of Families Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, Sept. 27

• 9:15 a.m. Meeting with bishops at at St. Martin’s Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
• 11:00 a.m. Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
• 4:00 p.m. Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• 7:00 p.m. Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation
• 8:00 p.m. Departure for Rome