Candis R. McLean
The SEPTA Regional Rail crisis and the process the transit department took to get back to standard traveling schedules has been well-documented. Last weekend, SEPTA announced a great number of their Silverliner V cars would be back to operation. The fleet, that saw its number of cars shortened by 120, has been slowly restocking and replenishing over the past several weeks.
SEPTA, during that period of reduction, borrowed trains from Amtrak and NJ Transit. Now, the mass transit organization finally gets some long-awaited and great news. SEPTA’s Regional Rail has returned to the timetable that was published on June 19. The effective date for the return to regular schedules was Sunday, October 2. More than 1/3 of the Silverliner cars are ready to return to service and operation. The new schedule boosts and fortifies previous train frequencies and transit patterns.
The leased cars will also remain in operation for a number of weeks. The cars reintegration will be a welcomed sight for many of SEPTA’s passengers. SEPTA still cautions riders to be prepared for overcrowding and shortages until the Silverliner V cars are back to full service.