Railroad Forums 

  • COVID-19 Effects on SEPTA

  • Discussion relating to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Philadelphia Metro Area). Official web site can be found here: www.septa.com. Also including discussion related to the PATCO Speedline rapid transit operated by Delaware River Port Authority. Official web site can be found here: http://www.ridepatco.org/.
Discussion relating to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Philadelphia Metro Area). Official web site can be found here: www.septa.com. Also including discussion related to the PATCO Speedline rapid transit operated by Delaware River Port Authority. Official web site can be found here: http://www.ridepatco.org/.

Moderator: AlexC

 #1556818  by zebrasepta
 
Well they're stopping overnight services over the weekends on the BSL and MFL and replacing them with buses to sanitize and clean the stations starting on Sunday.
The change takes effect Sunday. Buses will run every 15 minutes between 12:30 and 5:30 a.m. on weekend nights. The Owl Bus Service previously only operated Monday through Friday.

"This change reflects restrictions on late night and event activities across the city due to COVID-19 regulations and current ridership patterns," SEPTA noted in a press release. "With the lines shut down during overnight hours, SEPTA crews will be able to perform concentrated station cleanings, similar to what has been put into place on weekdays during the COVID-19 pandemic."
https://www.phillyvoice.com/septa-trans ... s-service/
 #1556850  by rdgrailfan
 
INQUIRER reports 85% reduction in rail travel, with funding in limbo. Turnpike revenue is down and bond payments are due in Jan with not enough funds to pay for them.
Something will need to give in the face of no money!!
 #1556943  by rcthompson04
 
rdgrailfan wrote: Tue Nov 17, 2020 8:09 am INQUIRER reports 85% reduction in rail travel, with funding in limbo. Turnpike revenue is down and bond payments are due in Jan with not enough funds to pay for them.
Something will need to give in the face of no money!!
At 15% utilization is is arguable they are running too many trains on some lines. There were maybe 40 cars at Paoli yesterday mid-afternoon. Malvern and Exton are barely getting weekend numbers. That hardly justifies 30 minute headways.
 #1558319  by ryan92084
 
Reclosing some of the outlying rail ticket offices through february. Honestly I'm surprised there aren't more.
Paoli/Thorndale Line
Berwyn
Devon
Radnor
Villanova
Rosemont
Haverford
Merion

Lansdale/Doylestown Line
Oreland
North Hills

Media/Elwyn Line
Moylan Rose Valley
Wallingford
Clifton–Aldan

Warminster Line
Roslyn

Wilmington/Newark Line
Glenolden
http://www.septa.org/covid-19/
 #1558378  by rcthompson04
 
I have been off during the work day and have driven by several Paoli-Thorndale stations in the last week. Parking usage was interesting on weekdays. Paoli seems to be operating at 30% with Malvern at 20%. Exton and Whitford were low teens if lucky. Devon was maybe 10%. Daylesford had a car. These were late morning / early afternoon times.
 #1558930  by Pensyfan19
 
Starting today, SEPTA is to close the following regional stations through February 2021 as part of budget cuts.

PAOLI/THORNDALE LINE:
Berwyn
Devon
Radnor
Villanova
Rosemont
Haverford
Merion

LANSDALE/DOYLESTOWN LINE:
Oreland
North Hills

MEDIA/ELWYN LINE:
Moylan Rose Valley
Wallingford
Clifton–Aldan

WARMINSTER LINE:
Roslyn

WILMINGTON/NEWARK LINE:
Glenolden

Please visit this site for more information.
 #1559076  by nomis
 
That is Ticket Offices, not stations ...
 #1559290  by 93r8g7
 
I think we all know Coronavirus is being used by SEPTA to not run service, and to push the Social distance which isn't written in any law. And of course, as per typical SEPTA fashion, no hearings, no votes on if this is, was a good idea. They just do it. Comments may be taken but the hands were shaken, minds made up ahead of time, defeating the purpose.

It would be one thing if SEPTA floated the idea of reducing service and sought public input then based on that input (permission) they held a vote on it, but SEPTA acts like a Venezualian third world dictatorship - with our money of course. People need to get around regardless, and very little of our fare dollars go to running day to day operations - so the laughable excuse SEPTA came up with that all of a sudden and the farebox revenue doesn't equal enough to match the cost of running trains - is Dead on Arrival. If they were serious, they'd can half their management, cut Customer Service down to one or two people, stop at the county lines, and demand the deadbeat counties pay up for their share of service as they barely contribute anything as of now.

Year after year Montco, Chester, Bucks, Delco, NJ and DE pay next to Zero in bus and rail subsady and the RINOS at SEPTA management not only are happy to get steamrolled, but they have the nerve to ask the feds for the difference as opposed to demanding these crooks in these counties pay cough it up, plus inflation.

Regardless, SEPTA uses this whole thing not only to reduce service for no reason, but to push their failed Key system with ballooning costs to take away paper transfers, again without hearings for that as well. They run 10 miles with anything if you give them an inch. Naturally, this is all to be expected.
 #1561115  by rcthompson04
 
ryan92084 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 2:53 pm More cuts to service and a whole bunch of "will depart early" which everyone always loves when the next is in 1-2h. Newark is getting some service back so it isn't all bad news.
https://www.septa.org/media/rail-preview.html
What’s the story adding the Fox Chase trains?

I am surprised they are keeping half hour headway on the Paoli Thorndale Line most of the day.
 #1561197  by R36 Combine Coach
 
One item that could be considered is that until further notice, all trains could operate on a flag stop only
basis (discharge or pickup at outlying stations by request only), given the low ridership and traffic density.
 #1561805  by rcthompson04
 
It looks like Regional Rail is operating primarily Silverliner IVs with a few Silverliner V pairs. I presume this is to avoid running miles on the newer equipment.
 #1561856  by rdgrailfan
 
Inquirer has two articles on SEPTA. One is the fate of the whole rail system, the other CHW lline
85% drop in ridership has some serious impacts for regional rail, many people will not come back.
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