SEPTA has identified a defect with its Silverliner V Regional Rail cars that has resulted in these trains being taken out of service for the immediate future. This will impact customers starting Tuesday, July 5, as SEPTA’s passenger capacity for weekday travel will be reduced.
All 120 Silverliner Vs, which SEPTA received between 2010 and 2013 and comprise approximately one- third of the Regional Rail fleet, are out of service. There will be no service impact today or on Monday, July 4th, as weekend/holiday schedules are already in place, and can be maintained utilizing the rest of the Regional Rail fleet.
Starting Tuesday, SEPTA is implementing its modified Saturday schedule that was developed for weather emergencies, with added rush hour trips. Rush hour service will be at 30 minute intervals on most lines. Schedule details are being finalized, and will be posted on SEPTA’s website, www.septa.org, on Monday afternoon. SEPTA will closely monitor service and continue to explore options to better accommodate passengers while repairs are made to the Silverliner V fleet.
Where possible, SEPTA also encourages Regional Rail riders to use transit modes, including buses, trolleys and subways. Details on services available to-and-from each Regional Rail station is available online at www.septa.org/stations/rail/stations.shtml. Customers who have purchased Weekly and Monthly TrailPasses can use them for travel on these transit modes. SEPTA is also urging customers who have purchased TrailPasses to hold onto them so they can be turned in for a credit on a future pass purchase. SEPTA is currently developing a plan for providing fare credits.
The Silverliner V structural defect was discovered early Friday morning by SEPTA railroad vehicle maintenance personnel. Follow-up inspections with the fleet showed that there was a problem with cracking in the main suspension systems. Within 24 hours, all Silverliner Vs had been taken out of service.
SEPTA will work with Hyundai Rotem, the rail car manufacturer, to resolve the problems. The suspension systems are still under warranty, and Hyundai Rotem is working cooperatively with SEPTA to locate and expedite the procurement of materials to repair or replace the failed suspension components.
SEPTA will continue to provide updates to its riders and the public throughout this process.
