SEPTA ups service frequency, nixes skip-stop on rail line

As part of an initiative to enhance service and adapt to growing ridership on the Market-Frankford Line, SEPTA will eliminate A/B skip-stop service during peak travel times — meaning all trains will stop at all stations, at all times. The decision to eliminate skip-stop service was made based on a successful pilot program in 2018 and helps address ridership growth.

In addition to the elimination of skip-stop service during peak travel, SEPTA will also increase service frequencies during weekday evening hours. SEPTA has seen demand during this period increase due to several factors, particularly changes in work schedules for customers who are commuting outside of the traditional nine-to-five window.

With the elimination of skip-stop service during peak travel, and higher frequencies in the evenings, customers will see the following improvements starting Feb. 24:

• At soon-to-be former A/B stations, the elimination of skip-stops will improve service from a train every eight minutes to a train every four minutes during peak hours.
• The Market-Frankford Line will continue to operate with peak frequencies of four minutes across the peak travel periods, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., frequencies will improve from a train every 10 minutes to a train every six minutes.
• From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., frequencies will improve from a train every 10 minutes to a train every eight minutes.