Federal safety officials have called for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to remove older Silverliner IV railcars from service. The call comes after five fires were investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) this year, raising urgent safety concerns.
A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that SEPTA must immediately restore any service recently cut, leaving the transit agency weighing its legal options. SEPTA declined to provide a statement on Thursday evening, and officials indicated the agency may still appeal the decision.
A judge in Philadelphia has granted a temporary injunction, putting further SEPTA service reductions on hold. While current service cuts remain in effect, new Regional Rail changes scheduled for next week are paused until a court hearing set for September 4.
Philadelphia’s transit authority, SEPTA, is trimming services to cope with surging costs and dwindling ridership. Experts warn that these cuts could foreshadow a nationwide trend if other U.S. agencies face similar economic pressures.
