Meanwhile, Kneuppel said SEPTA is partnering with Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and Maryland rail authorities to borrow trains and add 1,700 seats in Philadelphia next week. Officials hope the limited addition of seats will relieve some of the pressures the rail system saw in its first week of service since cracks were discovered in suspension systems in all but five of its 120 Silverline V rail cars.
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The regional rail authority and its thousands of passengers have been dealing with an “unprecedented situation” this week after inspections revealed cracks in a third of its trains.
SEPTA has hired consultants to pinpoint the source of the problem, which SEPTA General Manager Jeff Knueppel said could be a design flaw, bad materials or faulty workmanship.
Philadelphia’s regional rail system typically transports about 65,000 riders each way per day. Now, Uber is offering a 40 percent discount to suburban riders who travel to and from certain transit stops. Until the authority can lease equipment from other states, it’s streamlining some routes and urging commuters to find other ways to get into Center City Philadelphia.
Convention committee spokesman Lee Whack said the committee has worked closely with SEPTA to secure additional travel opportunities along the Broad Street line, which runs from downtown Philadelphia to the Wells Fargo Center. On most days, up to 15 percent of the system’s 400 cars are out of service for maintenance and fix. The ride-hailing company has agreed to settle its legal disputes with the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which regulates taxis, for $350,000, according to ABC News.
SEPTA says a new interim weekday train schedule will be in place Monday, and that should be available online Sunday afternoon. SEPTA says it will provide refunds and credits for weekly and monthly regional rail passes.
South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem began assembling the Silverliner V cars at a south Philadelphia factory after contracting with SEPTA in 2006.
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