Credit: William Verhagen / Unsplash.com
SEPTA is adding new trains to the West Trenton, Doylestown, and Trenton Regional Rail lines starting next month as part of a larger expansion of service.
In a statement on Monday, SEPTA said they are increasing Regional Rail service next month by adding 99 weekend trains and 24 weekday trains to the schedule.
New timetables for all lines will go into effect on Sunday, Sept. 8.
The changes are due to restoration of 80 percent of the weekday service levels from 77 percent and 84 percent of weekend service from 63 percent.
The expansion is part of SEPTA’s strategy to address the gradual recovery in ridership, which currently stands at about 67 percent of its pre-pandemic levels, with weekend numbers growing faster than weekday.
“As we continue to rebuild ridership, SEPTA is still facing a $240 million annual budget deficit, and the need for a permanent solution grows more urgent by the day,” said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards. “Despite this funding crisis, we cannot put critical investments in our system on hold. We must move forward with efforts to make our service more reliable for our riders who depend on us to get where they need to go.”
The increase in service is backed by a recruitment and training initiative, which has allowed the regional transit system to bolster its workforce.
With 189 engineers currently on board, SEPTA is on track to reach its targeted headcount of 213 by next spring, according to a statement.
Key highlights of the upcoming service changes include full restoration of 30-minute weekend service to the Philadelphia International Airport, hourly weekend service on most lines, and additional off-peak and reverse peak services. SEPTA is also adding more cars on select trains to alleviate overcrowding and is linking Airport Line service to the Manayunk/Norristown Line for seamless weekend travel between the airport and Norristown.
Adjustments to the schedule will increase service along the line.
A “state of good repair” project on the Warminster Regional Rail Line will necessitate shuttle bus substitutions from September 7 through November 3 on weekends between Warminster and Glenside stations, and on weekdays (mid-day only) between Warminster and Roslyn stations.
After a four-year hiatus on parking fees to draw riders, SEPTA will reintroduce parking charges in a phased manner starting September 23.
Parking rates at SEPTA-owned surface lots will double to $2, and fees at the three garages—Frankford Transportation Center, Norristown, and Lansdale—will rise to $4. Parking at surface lots will remain free on weekends and major holidays.
SEPTA will also debut a new parking system, featuring multiple payment options, including the new SEPTA Park app.
