Month: March 2011

 

To Cast your vote!

http://forums.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/topic/7272271/1/#new

Citing safety issues, SEPTA announced that the first two seats of each train of Silverliner Vs will be roped off from passengers, sparking a debate as to why SEPTA suddenly came out with this policy. Despite this new rule, riders will still be able to get a good view from the 2nd or 3rd row of seats, and the rear railfan window will still be open.

Read details in this article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110303_SEPTA__passengers__group_spar_over_seating_on_new_cars.html

This morning, at around 7:30, a Manayunk/Norristown Line train pulled down a half a mile of wire, shutting down service for hours Thursday morning.  Even when service was restored, a very limited PM rush schedule was operated, with service running every two hours on one track.  SEPTA officials blame this incident on the fact that the wires date back to the good old Reading Railroad days, from 1931!

The schedule for Friday’s morning rush hour will be limited as well, with a number of trains cancelled or cut back to Miquon.  SEPTA boosted service on the Norristown High Speed Line to give passengers another option, and will operate shuttle bus service for people needing to connect with trains at Miquon.

This article highlights the details of what happened with the Manayunk/Norristown Line and definitely is a call for more infrastructure funding for the system: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/117364528.html

As if the Manayunk/Norristown Line issue wasn’t enough, a Philly bound Trenton Line train snagged a wire in the Juniata section of Philadelphia (at G and Venango Streets by SHORE interlocking), causing a small brush fire.  The passengers on this train were saved by a New Jersey Transit diesel train.  Otherwise, Trenton Line as well as Chestnut Hill West service was suspended for a while as tracks 3 and 4 were shut down; Amtrak continued to operate on tracks 1 and 2.

Details in this NJ article and on Railroad.net.

If all this wasn’t enough, there were delays on the Lansdale/Doylestown Line due to equipment problems!  Finally, the day came to a close with issues on the Trenton Line AGAIN due to Amtrak signal issues.  This definitely wasn’t one of SEPTA’s better days!

Finally, the first PATCO car was shipped up to Hornell, NY as part of the Alstom contract for the rebuilding of the PATCO fleet.  Car # 247 left Lindenwold Thursday morning by truck with the help of Silk Road Transport.

For pictures, visit: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=76921&start=15