PATCO to offer free rides on New Year’s Eve

PATCO will be offering free rides on the high speed line New Year’s Eve.  It’s both a thank you to riders — and an inducement not to drink and drive, officials said.

Delaware River Port Authority CEO John Hanson said the authority, which operates the rail line, wanted to do something for the region.”In the interest of public safety and public health, PATCO is going to offer free rides from 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day,” he said.It’s a chance thank the community and to show off improvements on the train line between South Jersey and Philadelphia, he said.”The goal is absolutely to showcase the system and the changes we’ve made in the fare-collection system — although people won’t have to pay fares,” Hanson said. “Hopefully, the people who take the train will be able to get on one of the new cars.”

Rail service officials expect as many as 7,000 passengers will use the trains to get to and from New Year’s Eve fireworks and other celebrations

The gates will be left open until 4 a.m. If you’re on a train and find a gate closed, Hanson said, you can use the red phone to call to have it opened.