The depths of the Delaware Valley's so-called SEPTApocalypse may have subsided — locomotives were leased and schedules have been modified — but some regular Regional Rail riders are still contending with the aftermath of the agency losing a third of its Silverliner V railcars to a defect found in their truck beds.
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To assist those passengers hardest hit by reduced service and to anticipate a surge in ridership for the Fall season, SEPTA announced Thursday it will provide supplemental Express Bus service during morning and evening rush hours along its highest-volume Regional Rail lines.
Expresses Buses are geared toward providing passengers a flexible option as SEPTA continues repair work on the Silverliner V fleet, with an anticipated return to full service in October. The buses will operate at select stations from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. in the afternoon. Routes are designed to offer comparable trip times to Regional Rail service.
Regular transit fares will apply for the Express Bus service and can be paid using Weekly or Monthly Transpasses, tokens, cash or transfers. Those who want to use a combination of the Express Buses and Regional Rail service can do so with a Weekly or Monthly Trailpass or Regional Rail ticket. Transpasses, tokens and transfers, however, will not be accepted as fare for Regional Rail service.
The following stops and stations will be serviced by the Express Bus fleet beginning Sept. 6.
• Chestnut Hill East, Chestnut Hill West, Wyndmoor/St. Martins and Sedgwick Stations (Chestnut Hill East and West Lines): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center to connect with the Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. from Chestnut Hill East Station, with stops at Chestnut Hill West Station, Wyndmoor/St. Martins Station and Sedgwick Station.
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock between 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. with stops to the same stations.
• Fox Chase Station (Fox Chase Line): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center for connections with the Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart Fox Chase Station between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to Fox Chase Station.
• Jenkintown-Wyncote and Elkins Park Stations (Airport, Warminster, West Trenton and Lansdale/Doylestown Lines): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center for connections with the Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. from Jenkintown-Wyncote Station and stop at Elkins Park Station.
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to Jenkintown-Wyncote and Elkins Park.
• Ivy Ridge, Manayunk and Wissahickon Stations (Manayunk/Norristown Line): To-and-from Suburban Station in Center City:
- AM Express Buses depart between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. from Ivy Ridge Station, then stop at Manayunk Station and Wissahickon Station en route to Suburban Station.
- PM Express Buses depart 17th Street and JFK Boulevard between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to the same outlying stations.
• Swarthmore Station (Media/Elwyn Line): To-and-from AT&T Station for connections with the Broad Street Line:
- AM Express Buses depart between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. from Swarthmore Station for travel to AT&T Station.
- PM Express Buses depart AT&T Station between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to Swarthmore.
Specific departure times for each of these stations can be found here along with further information on Regional Rail Schedules, alternative modes of travel, parking and the latest service updates related to the rail car shortage.
SEPTA plans to provide the latest progress report on the Silverline V repairs next week.