Travelling Via market frankford line. (Millbourne, Penn: live in, cost, law)

[kylez8]

This summer I am taking an evening class from 5:30-8 at Villanova. I live in SJ and I have to commute over from my job leaving at 4. Due to traffic and my desire to maintain my sanity over the summer, I've decided not to try and brace the evening rush hour traffic. When I lived Villanova the past year, I only took the regional rail into the city, not the norristown high speed line to the market line. Last week I took the regional rail to my class but due to train delays I was barely able to make my class and had to take a cab from bryn mawr since the trains were all so delayed I had to take one that didn't stop in zone 3. I am considering taking the market street line to norristown speed line on the way there and taking regional rail back at night. However, I have never taken that route before and have been told by locals to avoid traveling through west philly. Personally, I can see it being no worse than traveling through Camden during the daytime. But now looking at it, I can see it being kinda sketchy since it seems commuters in the area only commute via regional rail and thus the subway cars will be empty. Am I right to think taking market through west philly is safe, or should I stick to regional rail?

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by kylez8

This summer I am taking an evening class from 5:30-8 at Villanova. I live in SJ and I have to commute over from my job leaving at 4. Due to traffic and my desire to maintain my sanity over the summer, I've decided not to try and brace the evening rush hour traffic. When I lived Villanova the past year, I only took the regional rail into the city, not the norristown high speed line to the market line. Last week I took the regional rail to my class but due to train delays I was barely able to make my class and had to take a cab from bryn mawr since the trains were all so delayed I had to take one that didn't stop in zone 3. I am considering taking the market street line to norristown speed line on the way there and taking regional rail back at night. However, I have never taken that route before and have been told by locals to avoid traveling through west philly. Personally, I can see it being no worse than traveling through Camden during the daytime. But now looking at it, I can see it being kinda sketchy since it seems commuters in the area only commute via regional rail and thus the subway cars will be empty. Am I right to think taking market through west philly is safe, or should I stick to regional rail?

Which locals were you talking to? Do live in the suburbs or the city?

I might stay aware of my surroundings a bit more than the daytime, but the El should be fine at that time relatively early in the evening.

[ElijahAstin]

You'll be fine on Market Frankford during the day. Hell, plenty of my fellow pampered Penn Law Students will take the train back from Millbourne just before midnight (and in quite the innebriated post-bowling league state at that).

The only reason I'd advise against taking Market Frankford to the High Speed Line is that you'll be in for a very long trip--and won't get much of a cost savings at that.

[MikeNigh]

I've taken the MFL to 69th and back many times, normally after 10pm. There was never a problem. I don't think taking the MFL through west philly is quite the same as "traveling through west philly" as far as safety is concerned.

[Cnote11]

I take the MFL to 69th all the time. Really no big deal whatsoever.

[SJCPHL]

The MFL isn't very nice. During peak hours, it's insanely crowded, it can be pretty dirty and there are all sorts of fairly frequent, but short, delays. That being said, the only time I felt uncomfortable on it is when I was taking it back from the bars at around 11:30 PM. (Now I just cough up the extra $12 for a cab.)

It sounds like you'll be taking it at non-peak times. Even if you're getting on at four, it sounds like (sorry, I don't know what SJ stands for) you'll be going into the city. At four, the rush is coming from Center City to West Philly, and it doesn't get really crowded until closer to 5. At 8:30 it'll be pretty empty anywhere you're going.

Just be sure that you don't sit on some of the weird stuff on the seats...

[Cnote11]

Insanely crowded? Have you been to other cities?

[SJCPHL]

Originally Posted by Cnote11

Insanely crowded? Have you been to other cities?

Yes.

[MikeNigh]

Live footage of the MFL during rush hour -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjJ3g_wv8H0

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Cnote11

Insanely crowded? Have you been to other cities?

Market Frankford can get pretty nuts during peak commute times, though nothing like the Japanese subway video Mike linked. Besides rush hour, other than game days, it's perfectly fine.