SEPTA will further efforts to rebuild a critical portion of Regional Rail infrastructure in the University City area as part of the Southwest Connection Improvement Program.
The work is scheduled to take place from Sunday, May 10, 2020 through Saturday, May 30, 2020 and will require major service adjustments that will impact customers who use the Airport, Media/Elwyn and Wilmington/Newark Lines.
The Southwest Connection Improvement Program will rebuild the mainline infrastructure on the Media/Elwyn Line between 30th Street Station and the Arsenal Interlocking, just below Penn Medicine Station, portions of which date more than 80 years. This track area also supports Wilmington/Newark and Airport Line services, making it a critical rail connection for Southwest Philadelphia, Center City, Delaware County, and the economic vitality of the region.
The Southwest Connection Improvement Program has been broken up into phases in an effort to minimize the disruption to passengers. Phases one and two were completed during the summers of 2018 and 2019, and the work starting May 10 represents the start of the third and final phase. There will be additional work this summer.
Upcoming Work Highlights
- Overhead wire work
- Tree trimming
- Interlocking work
- PennDOT tunnel work
- SEPTA bridge inspection
Service Changes in effect May 10-30
- A special construction Regional Rail timetable will be in effect for the Wilmington Line, https://www.septa.org/covid-19/service-information.html:
- The Wilmington Line will be restored May 10
- Trains will operate from Wilmington Station to Amtrak 30th Street Station
- The Airport Line, https://www.septa.org/covid-19/service-information.html, will operate as a shuttle bus service with a special construction schedule
- Shuttle buses will operate from 30th Street to the Airport and Eastwick Stations
- Service will operate every two hours
- Service on the Media/Elwyn Line will temporarily be suspended
- The Media/Elwyn Line will be restored May 31
- Alternate service will be available on the Wilmington Line and bus and trolley routes
- No trains will operate to Penn Medicine Station
- A circulator bus will operate between 30th Street and Penn Medicine Stations
The Southwest Connection Improvement Program helps with SEPTA’s overall efforts to improve Regional Rail service for customers and preserve it for future generations.
For more details on the project, please visit https://www.septa.org/southwestconnection/index.html.
In addition to the schedule information posted online, SEPTA will continue to post real-time service updates at https://www.septa.org/ and on Twitter @SEPTA.
