SEPTA Train Ridership Up 14% Since Interstate 95 Collapse

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —"Don't drive on I-95."

That was the message TMA Bucks, Bucks County's transportation agency, offered motorists after a section of Interstate 95 collapsed Sunday, sending drivers to check maps or google for alternative sites to work.

The agency, besides suggesting that people work from home, also mentioned SEPTA trains as another form of transportation. And that's what many are doing.

"So far, we're hearing that people using SEPTA from Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Northeast Philadelphia are getting to and from Center City and points in the Northeast without any serious issues," said Stephen J. Noll, TMA Bucks' executive director.

SEPTA officials said regional rail and train ridership is up by 14 percent overall this week since the collapse with workers from Warminster, Bensalem, Levittown, the Yardley area, and Hatboro-Horsham, among others, taking advantage of train service to reach Philadelphia.

On Monday, the agency announced that it was adding extended lines to ease the traffic burden on roads.

SEPTA is operating three extra morning and late afternoon trains on the Trenton Line, and adding capacity to regularly scheduled Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase Lines during peak hours to help support the region’s travel needs.

"SEPTA is doing everything possible to utilize the resources we have to meet this challenge for our region," said John Golden, the agency's public information manager. "We have been able to make adjustments on the rail lines that could most directly help those who usually drive and will continue to make any adjustments we can to accommodate these needs. We want commuters to know that SEPTA is an excellent alternative to traveling I-95 and also that our trains have plenty of capacity to accommodate more riders."

Read more: I-95 Collapse: Everything We Know So Far

SEPTA officials provided ridership tallies for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Thursday to Patch showing the ridership on the four main regional rail lines in the region:

Daily Ridership, Monday-Thursday

Wednesday Ridership

Tuesday Ridership

Monday Ridership

The Warminster line serves Hatboro and Warminster, among other towns.

The Trenton Line has stops in Bristol, Croydon, and Bensalem before heading to Philadelphia. And the West Trenton Line has stops at Yardley, Woodbourne, Langhorne, Neshaminy Falls, and Trevose stations in Lower Bucks County.

Customers can visit us online at SEPTA.org for frequent and real-time travel updates. Riders can also follow @SEPTA on Twitter, download the SEPTA App, or call Customer Service at 215-580-7800. A dedicated microsite with up-to-date service information can be found by clicking here.

Extra Trenton Line Service

• AM: 6:40 a.m. and 8:03 a.m. from Trenton, along with 8:25 a.m. from Holmesburg Juncton
• PM: Trains will run at 3:05 p.m. from Suburban Station to Holmesburg Junction, along with 4:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. to Trenton
• These trains are additions to regularly scheduled trips

Other Regional Rail Service

• SEPTA will increase capacity on the Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase Regional Rail Lines by adding rail cars to scheduled peak service trains. This means adding rail cars to regularly scheduled trains.
• Parking continues to be free at Regional Rail Stations and we will be deploying Operations personnel and ambassadors to assist customers Philadelphia Parking Authority parking lots near SEPTA stations at Fern Rock, Torresdale, and Fox Chase will also be free

TMA Bucks has provided regional rail line schedules for the following:

• Lansdale Doylestown Line
• Trenton Line
• Warminster Line
• West Trenton Line