Category: Uncategorized

We already knew about the 50 and 150 – however, it seems like the Casino will become a transportation center of sorts.  Routes 127 and 130 will both be extended to the Race Park Casinos.  Also, route 1 will be extended to the Casino, and route 20 will be extended to the Park as well.  This Casino will certainly be well served – hopefully they will have a nice bus stop/terminal location for the bus riders.  More information about service changes (including additional route 14 service) can be found here: http://www.septa.org/service/ppc.html.

Currently, SEPTA’s seeking to purchase 333 remanufactured Cummins ISL 280HP engines. It appears that 5640 was indeed the prototype of this retrofit, as well as 5617 (which is currently being retrofitted). Once these engines are purchased, they will likely to replace the Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR engine which is currently being used in the 2003 Fleet (5613-5712), as well as the 2004 fleet (5713-5830, 5851-5950). It’s still unclear as to what SEPTA will do with the remaining engines, but will indeed be interesting to see which units these engines will show up on. One of the possible reasons why SEPTA is retrofitting the fleet is because the new emission standards which will go into action later this year. Since the DD50 EGR has been proven to be faulty engine, SEPTA has decided to take a proactive approach and replace these engines to try and save on costs. This in mind – the Cummins ISL engine costs are way cheaper compared to the DD50, plus since these engines are way smaller compared to the DD50, SEPTA will gain on Fuel MPG. You can read the offical bid here…

 http://septa.org/business/over25000/bid02087b.html 

As of January 27th, 2007, the SEPTA Ticket Vending Machines (TVM)s were permanently taken out of service.  The last of their kind (as TVMs were basically available at a variety of stations as late as the early 90’s), they were just about obsolete, as they didn’t accept any of the new currency, particularly the new $10 and $20 bills, as well as the Susan B. Anthony Gold Dollar.  The last locations that had them included the Center City Philadelphia Stations, Philadelphia International Airport, and Trenton Station.  Now, passengers must buy tickets from the ticket offices – regular surcharge rules apply.  Please see the following webpage for information on ticket office hours at these locations: http://www.septa.org/service/kt10.html.

You may have heard about it on some radio commercials and print ads.  SEPTA has now instituted a PassPerks program, where you can get discounts at various stores, restaurants, and venues in the Philadelphia area.  The list of partners is somewhat sparse now, but hopefully it will grow.  Check it out at www.septapassperks.org – the website isn't bad, and highlights some of the many "perks" you already get when riding SEPTA.

Currently, the 20S (a shuttle between Franklin Mills Mall and Philadelphia Race Park) is running service to the casinos.  With this next schedule change February 11th, Faye Moore announced the institution of the route 50 in her "Message from the General Manager" section on the website.  However, she also comes from left field with a new experimental Frontier based route, route 150, which will run limited direct service from Plymouth Meeting Mall to the Race Park via the Philadelphia Turnpike.  The 150 will run generally bi-hourly headways Monday thru Saturday and charge a flat fare of 3.00.

Buzz! Transportation Management Administration of Chester County (TMACC) is starting a new commuter bus service dubbed the "Beeline".  This route, which starts service February 20, 2007, will run from downtown Coatesville to Great Valley.  Also, it will be operated by none other than Krapf's Transit, and is funded by Penn DOT.  The schedule is now up, and can be viewed on TMACC's website at www.tmacc.org.

The New Jersey Transit Board of Directors is expected to award a contract for 1,145 transit and suburban buses to North American Bus Industries (NABI).  Transit fans were first tipped off when NABI posted a call for New Jersey suppliers to help in a bus contract on NABI’s website.  As Creighton Rabs reports the expected awarding of the procurement, it is now official.  The buses will be delivered at approximately 200 per year.  They will replace the Flxible Metro Ds from the mid-1990s and both 40 foot Nova fleets from 1995-96 and 1998-2000.  It is not known whether a portion of the contract will be smaller buses to replace the “Baby” Novas (2501-2580).  The order will be for standard floor buses (NABI 416).  For more info, click here .

 

NJT is currently receiving (or soon to be) buses from Millenium RTS to replace the older 1989-1991 Flxible fleets.  NJT is having various problems with the two demos.  This appears to be why NABI has won the contract for the next batch of buses.  Stay tuned for more information on both the Millenium delivery progress and the NABI contract.

Route 15 is running buses indefinately.  The problem this time arose on Friday when a disabled PCC II was towed to 2336.  The torque arm on 2336 came lose and derailed the car.  SEPTA has pulled all PCC IIs out of service and at least all but two are now at Elmwood for inspections on the torque arms.  It appears as though SEPTA does not want this to happen again.  Route 15 is primarily running with Ikaruses on loan to Callowhill from other depots such as 5069 (Comly) and 5130 (Comly). This substitution will continue until repairs are completed on the PCC II fleet.

A large water main break at 3rd Street and Girard Avenues in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia has disrupted trolley service on Route 15.  This is the second time in several months this particular 30" diameter water main has broken in this area (last time was at 4th and Girard).  Water was everywhere flooding several blocks in the area.  Until repairs are made, Route 15 will be running bus service.  Whether the bus service is full route or trolleys are running as far as Girard College with buses east of there is unknown (more than likely full route).  At least three PCC II trolleys were reported to be stranded east of the water main break.  According to Chuck Green, these operators were being driven back to Callowhill by a supervisor.  It is unknown what will happen to these trolleys as to whether they will stay at Madison Loop until the line is restored or if they will be trucked back to Callowhill.  Stay tuned for updates.

Several New Flyers based out of Comly are currenty out of service for corrosion problems.  The buses are 5471, 5481, 5489, 5542, 5543, and 5545.  It is unknown as to where the corrosion came from but these buses were out of service as of yesterday and today.  More to follow as information becomes available.