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, said the FRA had taken a “more measured approach” to the situation involving the Silverliners by providing 30 days for repairs rather than ordering the removal of all cars from service, “to prevent crippling essential transit service thousands of commuters rely on.” But he said that was predicated on “SEPTA’s complete cooperation, including completion of those repairs and other rigorous risk mitigations outlined in the FRA order.”
SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer, in a hearing last week before the Philadelphia City Council, said SEPTA was attempting to meet the FRA’s 30-day deadline but was not sure it would be able to do so, and might ask for an extension [see “SEPTA could miss deadline …,” Trains.com, Oct. 20, 2025]. SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch told WPVI-TV on Thursday that inspections had been completed on just 82 of 223 Silverliner IVs, and that the “reality is that we probably have too many railcars left to finish by next Friday.” The station also reported that SEPTA is looking to lease or buy equipment from other transit agencies.
Shapiro, in comments earlier this month, linked the Silverliner issue to the ongoing fight over transit funding.
“I had no choice but to agree to SEPTA’s request to flex their capital dollars for operating costs, and now we’re in a position where SEPTA needs more capital dollars to deal with the challenges with the silver liners,” he said on Oct. 9. “I can tell you that I am working closely with SEPTA to figure out a solution to this. I will not leave them hanging.
Governor’s office responds to Duffy comments
Duffy’s letter also addressed the ongoing funding issues, laying the blame on Shapiro, a Democrat. “Your administration has failed to secure stable state funding, forcing SEPTA into a chronicle spiral of service cuts and deferred maintenance,” he wrote. “ … Because of your inaction and negligent oversight, Pennsylvania’s transit systems must mitigate safety and reliability risks.” The letter also characterizes Shapiro’s approval of the use of capital funds to address daily operations as a “Robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul accounting gimmick” that is “not sustainable.”
But as a Shapiro spokeswoman noted, Shapiro has repeatedly requested funding to address shortfalls for SEPTA and other transit agencies in the state.
“His budget proposal this year once again included $167 million for SEPTA but Senate Republicans in Harrisburg have refused to support nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on the system every day and continue to hold up our state budget,” said Press Secretary Rosie Lapowsky. “Instead of issuing a press release, if Secretary Duffy actually wants to be helpful, he should call his fellow Republicans and get them to fund the Governor’s mass transit funding package for SEPTA. We would be happy to provide their phone numbers.”
Pennsylvania has been operating without a state budget since July 1, in part because of an impasse over transit funding. Shapiro and Democratic legislators have backed a proposal have adjusted the amount of state tax money devoted to transit statewide; the most recent funding proposal passed by the Republican-controlled Senate called for drawing most of the money to address operational funding shortfalls from a trust fund for capital projects. [See “Pennsylvania Senate passes budget …,” Trains.com, Aug. 13, 2025.]
