PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has completed inspections of its Silverliner IV electric multiple-unit railcars, the agency says, but the amount of Regional Rail equipment available will remain significantly constrained until cars can be repaired. SEPTA originally faced an Oct. 31 deadline for inspection of the 233-car fleet following a series of fires, […]
PHILADELPHIA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail service continues to be hammered by the effects of inspections of its Silverliner IV railcars, with the agency announcing plans to cancel 22 trains both today (Thursday, Nov. 13) and Friday, Nov. 14. The same trains will have been cancelled all five days this week. Set for […]
PHILADELPHIA — The ongoing inspection process for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s fleet of Silverliner IV electrical multiple-unit cars has led to a significant increase in train cancellations as of today (Nov. 10, 2025). A SEPTA message posted on Sunday says Regional Rail service is “running with extremely limited vehicle availability” because of the inspections, […]
WASHINGTON — Adding to the ongoing issues of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the Federal Transit Administration has issued an emergency order requiring inspection of the catenary system of SEPTA’s 40-mile trolley network by this Friday, FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro said at a news conference today (Nov. 4, 2025). The press conference by Transportation Secretary […]
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 […]
PHILADELPHIA — The Federal Railroad Administration has granted a two-week extension to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority for completion of its FRA-mandated inspections of the 223-car Silverliner IV fleet. SEPTA said that as of today — Oct. 31, 2025, the original FRA deadline — it has met almost all of the actions required under the […]
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has asked the Federal Railroad Administration for more time to complete inspections of its Silverliner IV car fleet, a SEPTA spokesman said today (Oct. 29, 2025). Public broadcaster WHYY reports that the SEPTA has asked for an additional two weeks to complete the inspections of the 223 Silverliner […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday said the Federal Railroad Administration could order the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to remove unrepaired Silverliner IV cars from service if SEPTA does not meet the FRA’s 30-day deadline for addressing issues with the cars. Duffy, in an Oct. 23 letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, […]
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority may not meet an Oct. 31 federal deadline to complete inspections of its fleet of Silverliner IV railcars, despite around-the-clock efforts, the agency’s general manager said last week. General Manager Scott Sauer, in a Sept. 16 city council hearing, said the agency may ask for an extension, KYW-TV […]
PHILADELPHIA — Passengers on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority passengers on Regional Rail service are experiencing more crowded trains, as well as some delays and cancellations, as SEPTA begins federally mandated inspections to address concerns over fire risks with its Silverliner IV electric multiple unit passenger equipment. As of Monday, Sept. 6, all Regional Rail trains […]
WASHINGTON — SEPTA on Wednesday said it would not follow a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that it pull fire-prone Silverliner IV cars from service. But hours later the Federal Railroad Administration issued an emergency order covering the electric multiple-unit equipment. It orders SEPTA to remove groups of the cars for emergency mechanical assessments. General […]
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday urged the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to remove its Silverliner IV coaches from service until the Philadelphia-area commuter agency can mitigate fire risk in the fleet. The NTSB concluded that the outdated design of the Silverliner IVs, in combination with SEPTA’s maintenance and operating practices, represents […]
