Philadelphia to Washington DC is a busy NEC segment favored by government employees, lobbyists, consultants, and students who commute between the two cities regularly. At under 2 hours with 15+ daily trains, the logistics work well, the main question is how much you pay per trip.
Morning - Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station
| Train # | Departs | Arrives | Value Fare | Flex Fare | Avg Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 6:25 AM | 8:26 AM | $10–$194 | $11–$204 | +8 min / 65% on time |
| 181 | 7:11 AM | 9:06 AM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | - |
| 2103 | 7:22 AM | 9:09 AM | $64–$234 | $72–$248 | +4 min / 74% on time |
| 89 | 7:32 AM | 9:44 AM | $55–$194 | $60–$204 | +1 min / 81% on time |
| 113 | 8:01 AM | 9:55 AM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +1 min / 69% on time |
| 51 | 8:15 AM | 10:14 AM | $103–$194 | $109–$204 | +2 min / 77% on time |
| 2107 | 8:43 AM | 10:30 AM | $64–$234 | $72–$248 | +9 min / 73% on time |
| 79 | 8:58 AM | 11:09 AM | $103–$158 | $109–$166 | - |
| 183 | 9:05 AM | 11:16 AM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +7 min / 65% on time |
Evening - Washington Union Station to Philadelphia 30th Street Station
| Train # | Departs | Arrives | Value Fare | Flex Fare | Avg Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2172 | 4:00 PM | 5:38 PM | $64–$292 | $72–$310 | +9 min / 75% on time |
| 178 | 4:02 PM | 5:56 PM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +8 min / 81% on time |
| 2122 | 4:50 PM | 6:29 PM | $64–$234 | $72–$248 | +5 min / 77% on time |
| 136 | 5:05 PM | 6:58 PM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +6 min / 73% on time |
| 80 | 5:15 PM | 7:00 PM | - | - | +18 min / 48% on time |
| 2124 | 5:25 PM | 7:03 PM | $64–$234 | $72–$248 | +5 min / 78% on time |
| 196 | 6:10 PM | 8:00 PM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +6 min / 76% on time |
| 2126 | 6:15 PM | 7:51 PM | $64–$234 | $72–$248 | +11 min / 52% on time |
| 138 | 6:35 PM | 8:31 PM | $22–$194 | $25–$204 | +9 min / 68% on time |
| 192 | 7:12 PM | 9:08 PM | $10–$194 | $11–$204 | +4 min / 91% on time |
| 90 | 7:57 PM | 9:51 PM | $55–$194 | $60–$204 | +11 min / 81% on time |
| 186 | 8:30 PM | 10:25 PM | $10–$194 | $11–$204 | +5 min / 76% on time |
Schedule and fares as of Apr 2026–Feb 2027. Delay averages: 6-month window via juckins.net.
Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station Route Overview
The Northeast Regional covers Philadelphia 30th Street to Washington Union Station in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, with intermediate stops at Wilmington, DE and Baltimore, MD.
The Acela cuts the trip to around 1 hour 25 minutes but costs significantly more.
Amtrak runs 15+ trains daily on this segment in each direction, with concentrated departures in the morning (6-9 AM) and evening (5-8 PM) rush windows.
Washington Union Station connects to Metro Red Line, MARC commuter rail, and Amtrak long-distance services.
Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station Pricing
Northeast Regional fares for PHL-WAS range from $10 to $158 depending on timing and tier. Value (non-refundable) fares start at $10 and step up through multiple tiers as seats fill. Flex (fully refundable) fares start around $11 on the same trains.
Amtrak's 10-ride passes are available but fixed in time - you choose specific trains when you purchase. This works well for commuters with a predictable schedule.
If your employer offers a commuter benefit program (pre-tax transit dollars), Amtrak trips qualify, which can reduce your effective out-of-pocket cost by 25-35%.
Real pricing: $1,250/month, $500 for 10 rides, or $12-22 advance individual. Here is the math.
Save 22-35% on every ticket using your employer's commuter benefit account.
Free to join, earns you points on every Amtrak trip.
Booking Strategy
Book your regular commute trains in bulk 90+ days out when Value fares are available. This requires planning but delivers the lowest per-trip cost.
The most popular peak trains command the highest prices. Trains departing one hour earlier or later are often $10-$20 cheaper.
Sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards to earn points on every trip.
On-Time Performance
The schedule table above shows the 6-month average arrival delay and on-time percentage for each commuter-window train on this corridor. Delay performance varies significantly by train - check the table before choosing a regular departure.
Trains that originate further down the corridor tend to carry accumulated delay by the time they depart. Earlier trains in the morning generally have better on-time performance than later ones.
Full historical delay data for any Amtrak train number is available at juckins.net.
Station Guide
Philadelphia 30th Street Station connects to SEPTA Regional Rail from the lower level. Parking is available at the station.
Washington Union Station is served by Metro's Red Line. The Metro entrance is directly inside the building. Parking is available at the station.
Track Your Philadelphia to Washington DC Commute with RailCommute
Value fares on this corridor start at $10 and step to $158 before inventory closes. Most commuters who overpay do so because they missed the booking window, not because cheap seats were unavailable.
RailCommute monitors fares on your booked trips and alerts you when a cheaper seat opens. On a corridor with this many fare tiers, that alert can save $30-$50 on a single trip.
It also logs your actual cost per trip over time. Forward your Amtrak confirmation emails once and your calendar and spending update automatically.
Start tracking your Philadelphia 30th Street Station commute
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