PHILADELPHIA — The three SEPTA Regional Rail Lines most closely paralleling Interstate 95 saw a 12% increase in ridership on Monday, the first day the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority offered increased service and capacity following Sunday’s collapse of a bridge on I-95.
WHYY Radio reports ridership on the Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase lines was 5,182, compared to 4,635 the previous Monday, June 5. Most of the increase came on the Trenton line (up 277, or 13%) and West Trenton line (up 231, or 14%).
SEPTA added three trains on the Trenton line, as well as additional capacity on all three of those lines, in the wake of the Sunday bridge collapse following a fatal accident and fire involving a gasoline tank truck [see “SEPTA moves to increase rail service …,” Trains News Wire, June 11, 2023].
A greater increase was expected today (Tuesday, June 13), in light of post-pandemic ridership patterns that see the highest ridership on Tuesdays through Thursdays. The Bucks County Courier Times reports ridership is 65% of pre-COVID levels on those days, compared to just 40% on Mondays and 35% on Fridays.
