Silverliner Vs Out of Service - Schedule/Service Discussion

Thd former 3555 is now 555, but it originates at Temple, not Doylestown or Lansdale. It should probably be called 9555. I don't know what number the Temple to Malvern segment of what is now 3557 was before this latest change. It can't be a new train because Paoli-Thorndale was not shown as having any changes this week. Although the schedule for this line still shows the date July 18, it was actually updated to show these two changed/new train numbers.

It probably is the train that turns off from 6586 in Glenside (deadheads from there to Temple), but that was numbered 4589 and didn't appear on that Paoli-Thorndale timetable. Perhaps they just renumbered it.

zebrasepta wrote: SEPTA might have rushed to get the schedules out after they pulled 120 silverliner V's off for the cracked trucks or whoever designed the schedules wasn't thinking

The problem is that there are multiple sources of info (printed schedules, web schedules, mobile app schedules) and they aren't in sync, and while the schedule changes were certainly rushed - being a SEPTA scheduler over the last 7 weeks are so has to have been a thankless job - it shouldn't be hard for all the schedules to pull from the same master source. But then again, I work in the IT space, and system design, age, etc. can make the simple hard at times, which seems likely here.

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Headline: SEPTA to launch express bus service for some Regional Rail lines

SEPTA will start express bus service for some Regional Rail lines in September.

[...]

The express busing is to start Tuesday, Sept. 6.

[...]

The express buses will operate during the morning and afternoon commutes [...] (the service is to run from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; exact times will be posted online and at stations).

[...]

Regular transit fares will apply to the express buses, SEPTA said. People can pay with weekly or monthly passes, tokens or cash.

Express buses begin September 6.

Emily Babay, Philadelphia Inquirer wrote: Chestnut Hill East and West Lines: Busing to and from the Fern Rock Transportation Center
- Morning buses departing from the Chestnut Hill East, with stops at Chestnut Hill West, Wyndmoor/St. Martins and Sedgwick.
- Afternoon buses departing from Fern Rock, with stops at the same stations

Fox Chase Line: Busing between Fox Chase Station and the Fern Rock Transportation Center
- Morning buses departing Fox Chase
- Afternoon buses departing Fern Rock

Airport, Warminster, West Trenton and Lansdale/Doylestown Lines: Busing between the Jenkintown-Wyncote and Elkins Park stations and the Fern Rock Transportation Center
- Morning buses departing from Jenkintown-Wyncote, with a stop at Elkins Park
- Afternoon buses departing from Fern Rock to the same stations

Manayunk/Norristown Line: Busing to and from Suburban Station
- Morning buses departing from Ivy Ridge, with stops at the Manayunk and Wissahickon stations
- Afternoon buses departing from 17th Street and JFK Boulevard to the same stations

Media/Elwyn Line: Busing between Swarthmore Station and AT&T Station
- Morning buses departing from Swarthmore
- Afternoon buses departing from AT&T Station

Regular transit fares will apply to the express buses, SEPTA said. People can pay with weekly or monthly passes, tokens or cash.

Also in that article:

He also noted SEPTA has leased 48 leased rail cars, including 16 cars from the Maryland Area Commuter Service expected to be available shortly after September 1, which will help mitigate the delays and crowded trains riders have been coping with.

More leased equipment coming......

Something tells me that the SLV's aren't coming back anytime soon.

SEPTA will need to test the replacement parts to be sure this failure will NOT repeat itself,and then
the massive SL-V truck rebuild can begin.
It will take time to do it right the first time.

glennk419 wrote: Something tells me that the SLV's aren't coming back anytime soon.

Naw, no worries - the updated article has Knueppel saying they're about a week behind in getting the first cars out, but they expect to pick up the pace and complete the roll-out earlier than originally announced, by sometime in October, rather than November.

SEPTA had planned to repair 10 Silverliner V’s a week, and Knueppel said they will likely be able to do better than that once the installation process begins.

“Once we get into a groove, we would move,” he said. “The projected finish of the program is sooner than what I said before.”

Hundreds of replacement beams are being manufactured, Knueppel said, and he anticipated that the work should be completed in October.

A 2 car test train was on the Trenton line this morning. It was 2 single cars.

Saw a picture on Twitter of a test train on the Manayunk Norristown line at Ivy Ridge.

Everyone:

I took note of the Express Buses that SEPTA will operate at weekday peak hours beginning September 6th - my comments are on each:

CHE and CHW -and- FXC to Fern Rock: Surprising to me that terminal stations like these would need backup bus service - is this being provided
because delays or schedule changes are anticipated on these three branches that will drastically impact service levels?

Ivy Ridge - Suburban Station: This more then likely is backup for Manayunk-Norristown Line trains that may become crowded - going via the
Schuykill Expressway to Center City during peak hours may be more trouble then it is worth...

All three of these routes have alternate regular route bus service available offering more transit options if all else fails...

Jenkintown and Elkins Park to Fern Rock: JKT and EKP are two of the most likely stations to be affected by overcrowded trains from LAN/DYL,
WAR and WTR and depending on how reliable this alternate bus service is it could become another option for riders that may not be able to
board southbound trains in the AM peak and an alternate option for PM peak riders to both stations from the BSL at Fern Rock...

Swarthmore to PAT&Tison Station/BSL: Again this depends on how crowded Media-Elwyn trains become - if the Crum Creek Bridge construction
is completed before 9/6. If not it more then likely is to provide another option for riders over and above regular bus services in that area...

SEPTA has been making the best of what they have in the realm of RRD equipment that they have or leased but it remains to be seen how
operations fare after Labor Day when many regular riders return from vacations,etc...Will RRD be able to handle all the regulars returning
to the system with the Summer season closing? Let's all hope for the best for SEPTA RRD...

MACTRAXX

There should be another curve ball thrown into the whole Regional Rail conundrum this fall when the labor contracts expire for the city division.

If SEPTA can't negotiate a deal with the busses, trolleys, and subway unions, it's going to make for a long commute this autumn.

NPL: The plot thickens...a CTD Strike along with any RRD car shortage will cause major problems for not only SEPTA but the entire
Philadelphia region no matter what mode of travel that you use...MACTRAXX

Both CTD and STD contracts expire at midnight October 31st. The whole shebang is at stake here, with the potential to leave a not-fully-healthy Regional Rail network the only game in town.