SEPTA to Operate Lansdale-Doylestown Weekend Shuttle Buses

New Schedules Will Also Modify Weekday Service Effective May 7

April 24, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Weekend service on SEPTA’s Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) regional rail line will operate with shuttle buses for four consecutive weekends beginning Saturday, April 28 to accommodate a railroad interlocking construction project.

The shuttle buses will operate between Doylestown and North Wales Stations during the weekends of April 28 & 29, May 5 & 6, May 12 & 13 and May 19 & 20.

In addition, track construction on both segments (Paoli-Thorndale & Lansdale-Doylestown) of the R5 line will impact Lansdale-Doylestown weekday passengers during off peak times effective May 7. As a result, midday off peak train service will be reduced to hourly during the project until late 2007.

Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) weekend modifications (effective April 28 & 29 and May 5) include:

*Inbound (to Center City)
Shuttle buses will leave Doylestown Station on the hour between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. with the last shuttle bus leaving Doylestown at 10:30 p.m. Passengers should note that the shuttle buses are scheduled to leave Doylestown between 22 and 28 minutes earlier than regular train times. Shuttle buses will also leave Lansdale Station 34 minutes after the hour between 6:34 a.m. and 9:34 p.m. The buses will make local stops before connecting with train service at North Wales Station. At North Wales, trains will leave nine minutes earlier than on current schedules.

*Outbound (to Doylestown)
Regular train service will operate from Center City. At North Wales, passengers will transfer to shuttle buses to continue onto Lansdale and Doylestown.

SEPTA will follow this schedule on Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 29 and on Saturday, May 5 only. A new R5 schedule will become effective Sunday, May 6 requiring different shuttle bus times. The May 6 weekend schedule includes adjusted train times to accommodate track construction on both segments of the R5 line.

Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) weekend modifications (effective May 6, May 12-13 and May 19-20) include:

*Inbound (to Center City)
Shuttle buses will leave Doylestown Station 13 minutes after the hour between 6:13 a.m. and 9:13 p.m. with the last shuttle bus leaving Doylestown at 10:30 p.m. Passengers should note that the shuttle buses are scheduled to leave Doylestown earlier than regular train times. Shuttle buses will also leave Lansdale Station 47 minutes after the hour between 6:47 a.m. and 9:47 p.m.

*Outbound (to Doylestown)
Regular train service will operate from Center City. At North Wales, passengers will transfer to shuttle buses to continue onto Lansdale and Doylestown.

Due to track construction between Gwynedd Valley and Glenside Stations, weekday off peak Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) service will be modified beginning May 7 through mid-August during the midday. Train service will be reduced to operate hourly instead of every half-hour and passengers will be required to use opposite platforms to board and depart trains. In addition, passengers traveling beyond Center City will be required to transfer to connecting trains in Center City with transfer times of up to 44 minutes depending on destination.

Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) passengers will experience quieter train operations, increased travel speeds, reduced travel times and enhanced service reliability when the project is complete.

Passengers should obtain new Lansdale-Doylestown (R5) schedules available at all Center City stations or online. In addition, SEPTA representatives will be on-site at affected stations along the R5 line to distribute information prior to the changes. Passengers will also find posters at stations and informational leaflets on trains notifying them of the upcoming changes.

Passengers may call the SEPTA Customer Service Department at 215-580-7800 for all service information.