Train Defect Will Cause Major Problems For SEPTA Regional Rail Service

SEPTA commuters should brace for possible delays with their trip starting Tuesday.

SEPTA officials said all 120 Silverliner V Regional Rail cars, which make up about a third of its entire rail fleet, are out of service due to cracking in the main suspension systems.

Regional Rail service will operate on a modified Saturday schedule starting Tuesday. SEPTA officials said said Monday afternoon that they will bolster service on other transit modes to accommodate displaced riders.

“SEPTA is implementing a modified Saturday schedule that was developed for weather emergencies, with added rush hour trips. This schedule will remain in place on weekdays until further notice. Service during the morning and evening rush hours will run as close to every 30 minutes as possible,” officials said in a statement.

Here’s the low-down for Regional Rail service:

• Trains will operate on all lines and to all stations, with the exception of the Cynwyd Line, which will operate with shuttle buses.
• SEPTA is working to provide as much capacity as possible, however, customers should expect crowded conditions. Customers should also be aware that once capacity is reached on-board, trains will not be able to make stops to pick up additional riders, particularly at stations closest to Center City. For this reason, SEPTA urges customers who use these stations to consider using alternate SEPTA services.
• The modified schedules will be posted on SEPTA’s website, http://www.septa.org.

Alternate Transit Options: Service will be bolstered on city and suburban transit routes to help provide options for displaced riders.

• The Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, Norristown High Speed Line and Route 101/102 Trolleys will all operate with expanded rush-hour service levels, providing more frequent service and added capacity. Morning rush hour service will be extended to 10 a.m. Evening rush hour service will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Bus routes will be monitored for additional ridership and service enhanced where possible.
• Customers who have purchased Weekly and Monthly TrailPasses can use them for travel on transit modes. SEPTA is also urging customers who have purchased TrailPasses to hold onto them so they can be turned in for a credit on a future pass purchase. SEPTA is currently developing a plan for providing fare credits.

Parking for Transit Modes: SEPTA is securing additional parking at several key points that provide convenient access to transit modes.

• AT&T Station on the Broad Street Line, at the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia, will offer the most parking options. SEPTA has secured 1,600 spots at the former Naval Hospital at 1600 Pattison Avenue. Spaces are also available in the Citizens Bank Park lot at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.
• For those who can use the Market-Frankford Line, 300 spots will be available in the lot at 601 North Columbus Boulevard (on Columbus at the end of Spring Garden Street). The Spring Garden station is a short walk from this lot.
• SEPTA garages at Frankford Transportation Center and Norristown Transportation Center have existing capacity that can be utilized by customers for access to the Market-Frankford Line and Norristown High Speed Line.
• SEPTA is working with the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, suburban municipalities and counties, and a variety of partners throughout the region to find additional parking that can provide access to transit routes. Updates on available spaces will be provided as information is available. Customers may also want to look at options from the Philadelphia Parking Authority at http://www.philapark.org/locator/.

SEPTA Assistant General Manager for Operations Ron Hopkins said losing the 120 train cars will cause problems for the transit agency. In total, the Silverliner V fleet accounts for 13,000 seats.

The Regional Rail system currently provides transportation for 65,000 riders. With the removal of the Silverliner V cars, the system will have less capacity and can transport up to 40,000 people per day, PhillyVoice.com reported. The website also reported that Silverliner V trains could be out of service through the summer.

Hopkins said during a Fourth of July press conference that engineers are working on a solution to fix the structural defect that has caused cracking in the main suspension systems on nearly all Silverliner V trains. The flaw was found Friday when inspectors were working at a Philadelphia rail yard.

The 120 Silverliner V cars were purchased by SEPTA for $274 million within the past few years. Hyundai Rotem, the rail car manufacturer, is working with SEPTA engineers to repair or replace the defect. The Silverliner V trains are still under warranty.