The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority last week discovered cracks in steel beams in the suspension system, and took the 120 Hyundai Rotem coaches – called Silverline Vs – out of service to fix them. Hyundai Rotem spokesman Andy Hyer said the manufacturer is working “literally around the clock to get the cars back into service as soon as possible, safely and soundly”.
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The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority says cracks were discovered Friday in beams in the suspension system on its fleet of Hyundai Rotem-made Silverliner V rail coaches. “They are lighter. About 5,000 pounds lighter – so, about the size of an elephant – and we have different technology on our cars that they don’t”.
SEPTA says it will work with Hyundai Rotem, the rail vehicle manufacturer, to resolve the problems on these cars, received between 2010 and 2013.
Rail commuters in Philadelphia are finding fewer trains on the tracks and some delays, because the region’s main transit agency has sidelined more than 100 rail cars over a structural problem.
The Silverliner Vs comprise approximately one- third of SEPTA’s Regional Rail fleet. SEPTA said cracks were discovered Friday, July 1, 2016, in beams in the suspension system on 115 of the transit agency’s 120 Silverliner V coaches, which make up one-third of the agency’s fleet and were immediately taken out of service for emergency repairs that may reduce train service throughout the summer.
SEPTA is consulting with engineers to determine whether the Silverliner V beam cracks can be welded or whether all beams will have to be replaced.
Denver’s train airport service uses cars similar to Philadelphia’s Silverliner V that are also produced by South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem Co.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which primarily uses a model of coach much different from Philadelphia’s version, said it’s inspecting two of its older Hyundai coaches.
Since trains were operating on a holiday schedule over the weekend and on Monday, Tuesday’s morning commute was the first time the impact hit home.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority took 120 regional rail cars out of service because of structural defects.
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Despite that, the authority is reporting a few trains running 10 to 14 minutes late as the morning rush got underway, but no major delays. With 13,000 fewer seats, the trains carried about 35,000 to 40,000 people on Tuesday. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Business and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news organization. For the protection of AP and its licensors, content may not be copied, altered or redistributed in any form. Doing so may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.
