SEPTA inherited all of its Regional Rail lines from existing railroads except one—the Airport Line—which we constructed and opened on this day in 1985! Which makes April 28, 2026 its 41st birthday!
Philadelphia is fortunate to have a rail line that connects directly to PHL terminals. Only a handful of major airports in the United States offer this service to its customers.
The Airport Line is also important for bringing employees to work including Division of Aviation employees and concessions staff that live all over the city to flight crews that live across the world. Driving is not possible for many of these folks. Having reliable public transportation makes working at the airport a viable option.
Philadelphia International Airport is less than thirty minutes from Center City by train. The Airport Line runs every 30 minutes from 5AM to midnight on weekdays and weekends and stops at all major Philadelphia International Airport terminals. The platforms are high level making these stops ADA accessible as well as easier to board and alight with luggage. The Airport Line connects to every Regional Rail line, the L, the B, the T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and dozens of SEPTA bus routes.
SEPTA’s Airport Line is a key differentiator for Philadelphia—helping to attract major conferences, sporting events, and international gatherings to the City including Pope Francis’ historic visit in 2015, the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All Star Game in 2026, and possibly the DNC in 2028.
Trains and planes are the perfect combo. Both aviation and public transportation offer a more sustainable alternative to individual cars which are the primary driver of transportation-related emissions.
And ICYMI SEPTA accepts contactless payment for travel on all modes including Regional Rail and the Airport Line!