SEPTA Announces Timeline For Resuming Full Regional Rail Service

An end may be in sight to SEPTA commuter woes, as the transit authority has announced a preliminary timeline for a return of its handicapped fleet to full service.

SEPTA's Silverliner V rail cars, 120 of which were taken offline due to a structural defect in July, will begin returning to service by the end of August, according to a press release.

About 10 cars will return to service each week beginning August 21, with all 120 back in business by November 6, SEPTA estimates.

The Silverliner Vs that were taken offline comprise roughly a third of SEPTA's Regional Rail fleet, throwing the Philadelphia region's commuter situation into chaos in its immediate wake. As madness ensued at some of the more crowded stations and SEPTA recommended working from home when possible, the city of Philadelphia finally granted Uber and Lyft an official license to operate in the city.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience to customers resulting from the recent rail car shortage,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel in a statement. “A fast, but exhaustive, investigation has produced valuable information on how to create a new and improved design for these equalizer beams. SEPTA can now look forward to restoring full service starting later this summer.”

Fatigue cracks, most hairline-sized, were found in the equalizer beams on 115 of 120 Sliverliner Vs during July inspections, SEPTA said. All cars will be stress tested before returning to service. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the cracks.

SEPTA added that they are continuing to look for ways to increase the size of their fleet in the meantime, adding rented coach cars from Amtrak, NJ Transit and MARC.