Philadelphia is preparing to welcome in the New Year with fireworks along the waterfront, a first-ever outdoor concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and modified SEPTA service to help residents and visitors get around safely.
Whether you’re heading to Penn’s Landing for fireworks or gearing up for New Year’s Day festivities, including the Mummers Parade, here’s everything you need to know about transportation, detours, and schedules across the city.
New Year’s Eve SEPTA train service
On New Year’s Eve, Regional Rail operates on a weekday schedule with added late-night service on several lines to accommodate celebrations.
Regional Rail line with late-night service include:
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Chestnut Hill East Line
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Fox Chase Line
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Lansdale/Doylestown Line
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Manayunk/Norristown Line
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Media/Wawa Line
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Paoli/Thorndale Line (to Malvern Station only)
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Trenton Line
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Warminster Line
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West Trenton Line
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Wilmington/Newark Line (to Marcus Hook Station only)
All Metro Lines will also run on weekday schedules, with the Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line operating before and after the fireworks. Late-night trains will be available until 12:30 a.m.
Select bus routes will run on a modified weekday schedule, while others operate standard weekday service without school trips.
Getting to the waterfront fireworks on New Year’s Eve
The Visit PA New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Waterfront will light up the Delaware River with two shows, one at 6 p.m. and another at midnight. To avoid road closures with heavy traffic, SEPTA strongly encourages using public transit.
The easiest option is taking the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street Station, along with select bus routes including 5, 12, 17, 21, 25, 33, and 42, all of which provide access to the waterfront area.
Getting to the parkway concert with LL COOL J
Adding to the excitement, Philadelphia will host its first-ever outdoor New Year’s Eve concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. LL Cool J headlines the event, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. The lineup also includes DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, Dorothy, and Technician The DJ.
New Year’s Day SEPTA service & bus detours
On New Year’s Day, all Regional Rail, Metro, and buses operate on a Sunday schedule.
Bus Route 204 will not run, and multiple routes will be detoured starting at 8:15 a.m. on 15th Street in preparation for the Mummers Parade.
For real-time updates, riders are encouraged to use the SEPTA app, check system alerts, or contact Customer Service at 215-580-7800, which will operate normal hours on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Planning ahead will make celebrating New Year’s Eve in Philadelphia smoother and help you focus on the countdown instead of the commute.