WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will look at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s catenary inspection and maintenance process as part of its ongoing investigation into a Sept. 25, 2025, incident in which a pantograph separated from a SEPTA trolley, injuring the operator and three passengers.
The NTSB released its preliminary report into the incident last week. According to that report, the incident occurred about 6:48 a.m. in Springfield, Pa., involving a trolley en route to Media, Pa., on SEPTA’s D1 line between Media and Spring Hill. The trolley was traveling about 38 mph when the pantograph became entangled in the catenary wires at the Scenic Road Interlocking. That dislodge the pantograph from the car’s roof, with portions of the pantograph penetrating into the passenger compartment. The car was carrying nine passengers at the time; the operator and three passengers requested transport to a hospital with minor injuries.
On-scene work by NTSB investigators included inspections of the trolley, catenary and track; interviews; review of information from inward- and outward-facing image records and an event recorder; and review of radio communications, training programs, maintenance and inspection records, and company policies and procedures. The ongoing investigation will also look at trend analysis for risk management policies and safety assurance procedures.
