When SEPTA brought back late night subway service

[R3 Passenger]

For these late night trains, is SEPTA running full 6-car consists, or are they running a single pair of M4s?

[trackwelder]

For these late night trains, is SEPTA running full 6-car consists, or are they running a single pair of M4s?

full regular service consists. they don't break up a train unless they absolutely have to.

[jackintosh11]

I've heard that they use 4 car consists on sundays. Is that true?

[Tritransit Area]

For these late night trains, is SEPTA running full 6-car consists, or are they running a single pair of M4s?

I believe they are using 4 car trains on the MFL. The BSL is using 3 car trains.

I've heard that they use 4 car consists on sundays. Is that true?

Not anymore. There were times when SEPTA ran 4 car trains quite a while ago, though.

[R3 Passenger]

For these late night trains, is SEPTA running full 6-car consists, or are they running a single pair of M4s?

Well, there seems to be no agreement on whether they are running 4 or 6 car consists, so let me tweak my question a bit:

How many cars does SEPTA have open on these late night trains?

If all the passengers need to pay at the cab window, I can see some revenue problems arising from using an entire 6 car or 4 car train with all doors opening and closing. I'm curious about how this system works, but am not able to make it to a terminal to observe this for myself.

[ExCon90]

I haven't ridden the service either -- it's past my bedtime -- but I think I read that collection of fares by the operator will not take place at the busier stations; i.e., entrance turnstiles will be staffed at Lombard-South, Walnut-Locust, City Hall, and 2nd St., and all doors will open at those points. I did see a photo of an operator collecting fares at the door at Frankford Terminal, but I would think most passengers would be alighting there rather than boarding. Somebody speak up if this isn't correct.

[acs85]

People seem to have forgotten that PATCO has successfully run a 24/7 service for years. And many of its stops are in the suburbs!

[ekt8750]

People seem to have forgotten that PATCO has successfully run a 24/7 service for years. And many of its stops are in the suburbs!

I never knew they ran 24/7. I could have used this information Saturday night lol

[Amtrak7]

People seem to have forgotten that PATCO has successfully run a 24/7 service for years. And many of its stops are in the suburbs!

How are PATCO stations staffed? (round the clock, days only, peaks only, not at all?)

[jackintosh11]

All stations are staffed in the mornings, a few during the evening rush hour, and not at all other times.

[radioboy]

And most of those staffings are new developments since 2009 or so. Prior to that there were some ticket windows at the big ones (eg Woodcrest) during morning rush, and the stations were otherwise unmanned.

Sometimes there would be someone there for the super-late trains to make sure the drunks kept it in line.

[bikentransit]

I rode the late night service on Saturday and the stations were unstaffed. At each downtown stop, the operator said "all fares to the front" over the PA as the train entered the station, then opened all the doors. Everyone got on without going to the front, and we were on our way. Free rides for all I guess.

[Suburban Station]

I rode the late night service on Saturday and the stations were unstaffed. At each downtown stop, the operator said "all fares to the front" over the PA as the train entered the station, then opened all the doors. Everyone got on without going to the front, and we were on our way. Free rides for all I guess.

that's one way to keep ridership artificially low so you can cancel it. SEPTA similarly still does a poor job of collecting fares on busy regional rail trains and for special events.

[Clearfield]

that's one way to keep ridership artificially low so you can cancel it. SEPTA similarly still does a poor job of collecting fares on busy regional rail trains and for special events.

It's nearly impossible to collect fares for special events.

As far as late nite subway service, keep wishing for SEPTA to cancel it so you can complain about the cancellation too..............

[Suburban Station]

that's one way to keep ridership artificially low so you can cancel it. SEPTA similarly still does a poor job of collecting fares on busy regional rail trains and for special events.

It's nearly impossible to collect fares for special events.

As far as late nite subway service, keep wishing for SEPTA to cancel it so you can complain about the cancellation too..............

Don't be silly. Fares can, in fact be collected on busy trains. Septa has done a poor job of this since i cam remember (20 years).Who said I'm wishing? Oh that's right, it's your silly claim. The fact is I want then to keep it which is why under counting ridership is important. Septa has indicated that ridership is under performing relative to their expectations. Setting aside the fact that service changes take time to build ridership, under counting is working against keeping it.