Category: Uncategorized

On February 15, 2009, PATCO will turn 40 years old.  Soon PATCO will have events commemorating 40 years of service and are looking for people to share their experiences with the system over the last 40 years.  Vintage photos would also be greats.  If you have anything you would like to share, please contact PATCO at [email protected].  Hurry up, because the deadline is January 30th.

A few of the members on the foums has told me about the existence of PTVforums.com. Philadelphia Transit Vehicles is not affiliated with this site.  The Offical link to our forums is and will always remain!

http://www.philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/

The new route 23 schedule starts today.  This essentially ends the 23 shuttle service, as well as service on Stenton Ave, due to the end of construction on Germantown Ave.

See the new schedule here: http://septa.org/service/sched/pdfs/bus_1_40/023.pdf

There is also a new 204 schedule, which has major revisions.  Check them out in this schedule document: http://septa.org/service/sched/pdfs/bus_81_x/204.pdf

Starting January 12th, the first car on certain R5 Express trains will be designated as “Quiet Cars”.  Cell phone use in this car will be prohibited, electronic devices will be placed on silent, and conversation will be limited and reduced to a whisper.  This is a pilot program and will last until Friday, March 13, 2009.

These are the trains:

• Train #507 Departs Doylestown 6:12 a.m.
• Train #505 Departs Lansdale 6:20 a.m.
• Train #4711 Departs Doylestown 6:41 a.m.
• Train #509 Departs Lansdale 6:49 a.m.
• Train #6595 Departs Doylestown 7:02 a.m.
• Train #515 Departs Lansdale 7:46 a.m.

• Train #6596 Departs Suburban Station 4:15 p.m.
• Train #6572 Departs Suburban Station 4:44 p.m.
• Train #6576 Departs Suburban Station 5:17 p.m.
• Train #6598 Departs Suburban Station 5:34 p.m.

 More information here: http://septa.org/service/quietride.html

Due to PennDOT bridge construction work, the R6 will be bussing between Elm Street, Norristown and Conshohocken/Miquon on January 10th and 11th.  Inbound trains will pick up at Conshohocken, while the outbound trains will drop off at Miquon Station.  Please visit the following link for the schedule for that weekend.

Schedule: http://www.septa.org/travel_advisory/R6_NOR_shuttleBus_2009-01a.pdf

The ACES service between Atlantic City, NJ, and New York via Newark Penn Station will start on Friday, February 6th.  This weekend only train will operate several trips a day, using two 4-car trains of multi-level equipment.  First Class accommodations are available on the first floor, with coach on the lower level.  Additionally, kiosks that sell food and beverage will be available as well.

Tickets are $50 dollars for coach and $75 dollars for First Class.  These are One-Way tickets, and will start being sold on January 15th, 2009.  Once in Atlantic City, shuttle buses will take riders to the boardwalk and casinos.

For more information about the ACES train (including the schedule), please visit the website at http://www.acestrain.com/.

According to ED77KATR in the forums, the union has decided to take a 1 year extension on the contract.  This will eliminate the threat of a strike for 2005.  Hopefully, the economic situation will be better in 2010 and reasonable negotiations can start then.

Yesterday, the NJTransit board of directors has approved a purchase of 57 new buses.

The order will consist of following:

► 39 low floor buses purchased from NABI Industries. The interesting fact is these coaches will be 32 feet long and based off of the LFW platform. This is a new model for NABI, as previously NABI didn’t make buses under 35 feet based off of the LFW platform. 28 of these new buses are set to go to Egg Harbor; the remaining will go to contracted routes in Morris County.

   Total contact cost is $12.5 Million.

► 18 MCI Cruisers to be operated on routes throughout North Jersey.

   Total contact cost is $9 Million.

This order will supplement the order of 1,145 NABIS which are set to start arriving early next year.

Photo-Right: 7407 at Atlantic City Bus Terminal; Photographer: Brandon Shaw

Around 5 A.m. this morning.  A New Flyer D40LF (uncertain of the #) was operating on the route 37 around Sellers Avenue in Ridley Township was caught on fire.  By the time fire cruises rushed to the scene.  The bus was fully in engulfed into frames.  From looking at the photos provided by WPVI 6, the bus appeared to be unsalvageable.  This could very well be the first New Flyer scraped by SEPTA….

Photo-right: Courtasy of WPVI 6

Starting Sunday, December 7th, a specially decorated Holiday Trolley (likely a PCC II) will be running on route 15.  This trolley is likely similar to the decorated Kawasaki LRV that was running on the 10 trolley last year.  Callowhill Operator Gary Mason decorates a trolley car every year for the holiday season.

The good news is that this trolley will be operating on a specific schedule this year.  View the schedule below to see when you may be able to catch the Holiday Trolley: