Cab Fare to Berwyn, PA?

November 12, 2008 2:30 PM

What will a cab cost from Philadelphia's airport to Berwyn, PA?

I am trying to figure out how to get from the airport out to Berwyn for work. Options are to rent a car (but I will probably get lost), take a cab, or hire a car service. Car service is $120 one way.

posted by Mid to Travel & Transportation around Devon-Berwyn, PA (15 answers total)

Is the work location close to a train station? Septa's R5 line has a Berwyn stop; for less than $20 total during peak hours, you can take the train from the airport to center city, and from there switch to the R5 and go out to Berwyn.
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:41 PM on November 12, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks. Looks like that station is 2.3 miles from my destination. (I am going to where Valley Forge crosses the 202.) Not sure that would work. Could I pick up a cab at the Berwyn station?
posted by Mid at 2:52 PM on November 12, 2008

I would think that either a cab or public transportation (bus or light rail) would be able to get you from the Berwyn train station to your work site. Rail stations tend to have feeder bus lines to extend their reach.
posted by chookibing at 3:19 PM on November 12, 2008

I would wait for someone here to come up with a reliable suburban cab service that you could call upon arrival to arrange for a pickup before using the train strategy. There's no feeder buses out there, actually there are no feeder buses off any SEPTA regional rails that I know of, unless you're counting the stations that happen to also fall along SEPTA bus routes. 202 & 422 is not where you want to be without a ride, especially at night. Of course, I'm not saying its dangerous as it's a pretty luxe area, it's just that if you don't have a cab prearranged you're looking at hoping to bum a ride off one of your fellow train passengers or walking.
posted by The Straightener at 4:18 PM on November 12, 2008

Seconding The Straightener's comment about arranging a cab to meet you if you take the train. I never see cabs in the burbs, you'd be waiting forever if you didn't make arrangements.

Why so sure you'll get lost with a rental car? Lots of rentals have the navigation systems in them now and they're pretty reliable. Have faith in yourself!
posted by NoraCharles at 4:46 PM on November 12, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks, all. Work will pay for the car service so long as it is not insanely expensive compared to other options -- do you think $120 is way over what a cab would charge for this ride? (I have no clue if this is a $50 cab ride or more like $100.)
posted by Mid at 5:48 PM on November 12, 2008

A cab ride from the airport to my place is around 50 dollars - and berwyn is much further out.

I'd suggest a rental + a GPS.
posted by filmgeek at 7:09 PM on November 12, 2008

$120 seems rather on the high end to me. I've used Trinity Limo (I think that's the name, the only number I can find is [phone]) from Media, PA to JFK for $50-$60 one-way. They meander all the way up through NJ picking up people so I guess that might be why it's cheaper, since you're sharing.

It's okay service, I got to the airport, and it might be easier for you than negotiating the public transit system, which I very much appreciate but it's hard if you're not going directly somewhere on one of the regional rail lines.
posted by polexa at 8:56 PM on November 12, 2008

Sorry, I meant to add that they also do airport pickups, so that should work for you. I'll check at work tomorrow to see if I have another phone # for them.
posted by polexa at 9:43 PM on November 12, 2008

I would take the Septa train from the airport to Suburban Station. Then take the R5 Paoli Line from Suburban Station to Berwyn. You're going from Suburban Station in Center City to Berwyn in Zone 3 so the highest you'll pay is $6 if you buy the ticket on the train; $5 if you buy it in the station before you board. I imagine the fee from the Airport to Suburban Station would be about the same. (By the by, the R5 spur seems to be the most stable and efficient of all the Septa lines.) Trains are clean, comfortable and there are luggage racks above for your stuff. No bathrooms on train though so go before you go. You can get full info and schedules at www.Septa.org.

Then call Main Line Taxi at 610-272-1000 (http://www.mainlinetaxi.com/) to get you your final jump from the Berwyn Station in. (As a backup, there's Devon Taxi at 610 688-0756.) There are two or three nice little restaurants 30 yards away just across the street from the Berwyn Station if you want to wait there and catch a bite or a drink.

And when you get to your final destination, look at the top of the ridge of hill northwest of Rt. 202 and wave. That's me on the deck.
posted by lpsguy at 6:55 AM on November 13, 2008

a cab is going to be VERY expensive. renting a car will probably be your best bet (especially if you return it at the airport).
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:49 AM on November 13, 2008

or, do what lpsguy said. i would have suggested the trains, but getting from station to work would have been tough. but he provided you with taxi info! that's service right there!
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:50 AM on November 13, 2008

I suggest you rent a car with a GPS (or at least offer that as an alternate price to your work). I would budget about $100 per day for the rental.
posted by KAS at 1:35 PM on November 13, 2008

lpsguy is right, if you want to spend 3 hours getting from the airport to your destination. best bet is rental car with GPS.
posted by LilBucner at 1:40 PM on November 13, 2008

You're going from Suburban Station in Center City to Berwyn in Zone 3 so the highest you'll pay is $6 if you buy the ticket on the train; $5 if you buy it in the station before you board. I imagine the fee from the Airport to Suburban Station would be about the same.

If you do decide to take regional rail, you can tell the conductor your final destination (Berwyn), and you can get one ticket. It'll be cheaper, since there's a limit on the number of zones they can charge you for. I think it might be around $8 or $9, depending on when you're traveling (peak/offpeak).

Also, just so you don't spend time hunting for a ticket machine at the airport, it's no longer possible to buy the ticket before you board -- you have to buy it from the conductor.
posted by polexa at 1:43 PM on November 13, 2008