How to Track Philly Trolley Works Buses in Real Time

Updated

Philly Trolley Works offers a Real Time Live Bus Tracking feature on its website, along with a downloadable PDF of the tour route and attractions and a "Map Your Trip" tool. You can use these to see where buses are and plan around service changes. Note that the site also posts announcements about detours and stop relocations, so tracking works best when you check those updates first.

What tracking tools are available

The site lists these planning and tracking resources:

  • Real Time Live Bus Tracking — shows current bus positions.
  • Map Your Trip — helps you plan your route.
  • View PDF: Tour Route and Attractions — a static route and attraction reference.

How to check bus locations

  1. Go to phillytour.com.
  2. Find the Real Time Live Bus Tracking link.
  3. Open it to view live bus positions.
  4. Cross-check with the View PDF: Tour Route and Attractions to match buses to stops and attractions.

Expected result: you see where buses currently are relative to the route, so you can time your arrival at a stop.

Check announcements before you rely on tracking

Service changes can move departure points, so tracking alone may not match the posted route. Recent announcements on the site include:

  • July 14th — all tours depart from Stop 6 (12th and Filbert Street) due to road closures around Independence Mall, with possible detours.
  • July 4th — the last day tour departs at 4PM; Philly By Night Tours are not available.
  • July 3rd — Big Bus Day Tours closed due to road closures; Philly by Night Tours still run at 6PM and 8PM from 12th and Filbert Streets.
  • Sunday June 14th — all tours begin at Stop 6 (12th and Filbert Streets); Stop 1 and much of Old City are inaccessible.
  • Stop 16 (Franklin Institute) — relocated until further notice; pickup and drop-off along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway/Logan Circle near Race Street.
  • Red Route/Fairmount Park Loop — limited service due to detours and road closures.
  • Fairmount Park Loop — available Friday–Sunday for the summer season through Labor Day.

Common snags

  • Departure point changes: if a stop is closed, live tracking may show buses running a different path than the PDF route.
  • Seasonal routes: the Fairmount Park Loop (Red Route) only runs Friday–Sunday through Labor Day, so it won't appear on other days.
  • Relocated stops: Stop 16 is moved, so plan pickup near Race Street on the Parkway/Logan Circle.

For groups of 25 or more, the site says to call 215-389-8687.