SEPTA Holds Safety Blitz in Ambler

During the Thursday morning rush hour commute at the Ambler Regional Rail station, members from SEPTA’s Safety Department were on hand to remind riders of the dangers of crossing the tracks while a train is coming, among other track dangers.

Jim Bahn, safety officer with the System Safety Department, said the team is not only on site to remind riders and the community about safety around the tracks, but also to answer questions that anyone may have.

At the Ambler station, the new high-level platforms have eliminated a lot of riders crossing the tracks between platforms, said Bahn. However, now the problem is people running around the gates when the trains have arrived so as to not miss their train.

The Safety Department received a call from a concerned rider about someone running around the gates.  It takes more than one phone call to bring out the team, but the call influenced the team's decision to visit the station.

“SEPTA is very proactive in … eliminating dangers,” said Bahn.

He added that SEPTA also wants to educate the public about the dangers and make them aware of the risks involved, which is why his team of seven safety officers and two SEPTA police were on site Thursday morning.

Team members participate in at least one safety blitz a month, rotating between stations that they feel need it. They hand out fliers with information about the risks and dangers around train tracks, and each flier is tailored to the station's needs.

The team also works closely with other departments within SEPTA, talks to crew members in the field to find out what they have seen, and gets a handle for what has been going on at the site before arriving.

While Ambler’s Safety Blitz was a morning rush hour blitz, Bahn said SEPTA tailors the times based on when the blitz is most needed: morning, evening, or even midday.

At Ambler, SEPTA’s signal department has installed a device that alerts pedestrians and motorists of a train coming, or a second train coming, with flashing lights and vocal warnings.