20-minute delays on SEPTA Regional Rail, many tickets left on Amtrak, PATCO

SEPTA Regional Rail lines are operating with 20-minute delays across the system due to some high volume from the World Meeting of Families attendees, a spokeswoman for the agency said.

But SEPTA, Amtrak, and PATCO train systems are all ready for the crush of riders expected Saturday and Sunday, officials at those agencies said Friday evening.

Amtrak and PATCO even have tickets still available for those last-minute papal planners. Amtrak has tickets available online for their Keystone and Northeast Corridor train lines. So buying a ticket and hopping on an Amtrak train in Trenton or Harrisburg will be as easy as going online and buying a pass.

PATCO, on the other hand, is no longer offering tickets online, but they will be selling tickets at the four New Jersey stations heading into Philly Saturday and Sunday.

But "be patient" and "don't cut it too close" are two recommendations for riders.

"We're a running normal weekend schedule with some extra trains and there are tickets still available," Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz said Friday evening. "No special pass needed. There are some trains sold out. But it's a great way to go. Our trains will take you right into 30th Street Station. And for those in the Trenton, N.J., area, we're adding an extra stop in Hamilton."

PATCO spokesman Kyle Anderson said riders can buy tickets with a credit card or cash either day, as the transit line has capacity for 75,000 riders and has sold only 17,000 passes for Saturday and Sunday.

He did add that the 17,000 number doesn't account for PATCO's 20,000-25,000 regular riders who have Freedom Cards. They may also decide to come and see Pope Francis, he said.

"We're anticipating lines for those folks (who buy their tickets on the platform), but we still have plenty of capacity," he said.

Sales of SEPTA's papal transit passes end Friday night. No "day of" sales will be available