MENU
SEARCHThe FRA outlined 14 safety-related requirements in an Emergency Order issued on Oct. 1 in response to recent fires involving the Silverliner IV fleet.
SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer thanked employees at the maintenance shops where crews have worked around the clock for weeks to conduct the complex inspections and address any needed repairs.
Photo: SEPTA
Philadelphia’s SEPTA completed the point-by-point inspections of its Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains ahead of the deadline set by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer thanked employees at the maintenance shops where crews have worked around the clock for weeks to conduct the complex inspections and address any needed repairs.
“I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our workforce to achieve this major milestone,” said Sauer. “I am confident that, through continued collaboration with the FRA, we can maintain safe Silverliner IV service for our customers.”
The FRA outlined 14 safety-related requirements in an Emergency Order issued on Oct. 1 in response to recent fires involving the Silverliner IV fleet.
SEPTA met almost all of the required actions by the FRA’s initial Oct. 31 deadline. The FRA granted SEPTA an extension to finish enhanced inspections of the 223 railcars and install new high-heat detectors.
The agency stated that it will meet the new deadline of December 5 to install the thermal protection circuits on the Silverliner IV railcars. The circuits serve as a safety mechanism, designed to interrupt the flow of electricity to an overheating device, thereby providing an added layer of protection.
Now that the inspections are completed, Regional Rail reliability should gradually improve through the end of the year as more railcars are repaired and returned to service.
“We understand that the recent service disruptions on Regional Rail have wreaked havoc on the daily lives of our riders,” said Sauer. “We appreciate their patience as we work to mitigate the canceled trips, long delays, and crowded railcars.”
Meanwhile, SEPTA has signed an agreement with the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail (MARC) system to lease 10 rail coach cars, which will help provide some relief to customers in the coming weeks.
The agency stated that it will continue to provide updates on the federally mandated safety actions.
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
Read More →
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Read More →
The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
Read More →
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
Read More →
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Read More →
Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.
Read More →
The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.
Read More →
The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.
Read More →
The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.
Read More →
Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
Read More →
