As part of a major service expansion, SEPTA will deploy new trains on the West Trenton and Trenton Regional Rail lines starting next month.
In a statement Monday, SEPTA announced that it will expand regional rail service next month by adding 99 trains on weekends and 24 trains on weekdays.
From Sunday, September 8, new timetables will apply to all lines.
The changes are due to the restoration of operating levels from 77 percent on weekdays to 80 percent and from 63 percent on weekends to 84 percent.
The expansion is part of SEPTA’s strategy to respond to the gradual recovery in ridership, which is currently at about 67 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with numbers growing faster on weekends than on weekdays.
“While we continue to grow ridership, SEPTA still faces a $240 million annual budget deficit, and the need for a permanent solution becomes more urgent by the day,” said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards. “Despite this funding crisis, we cannot put critical investments in our system on hold. We must continue our efforts to make our service more reliable for our riders who rely on us to get to their destinations.”
The expansion of services is supported by a recruitment and training initiative that has enabled the regional transport system to strengthen its workforce.
SEPTA currently has 189 engineers on board and is on track to reach its target number of 213 employees by next spring, it said in a statement.
Key highlights of the upcoming service changes include the full restoration of 30-minute weekend service to Philadelphia International Airport, hourly weekend service on most lines, and additional off-peak and contraflow service. SEPTA will also add more cars on select trains to reduce overcrowding and connect the Airport Line to the Manayunk/Norristown Line to provide seamless travel between the airport and Norristown on weekends.
Timetable adjustments will improve services along the route.
Due to a “maintenance project” on the Warminster Regional Rail Line, replacement shuttle bus service is required between Warminster and Glenside stations on weekends and between Warminster and Roslyn stations on weekdays (noon only) from September 7 through November 3.
After a four-year pause in charging parking fees to attract riders, SEPTA will gradually reinstate parking fees starting September 23.
Parking fees in SEPTA-operated lots will double to $2, and fees in the three parking garages – Frankford Transportation Center, Norristown and Lansdale – will increase to $4. Parking in the lots will remain free on weekends and major holidays.
SEPTA will also introduce a new parking system with multiple payment options, including the new SEPTA Parking app.
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