Ridership on SEPTA Regional Rail Lines Continues Steady Climb

SEPTA Regional Rail Schedules to Change on Sunday, August 6

August 4, 2006

PHILADELPHIA, PA - As gasoline prices continue to hover in the $3.00 or more per gallon range with no predicted decrease in the near future thousands of commuters in the Greater Philadelphia region have discovered that SEPTA's regional rail services provide a comfortable and cost effective alternative to driving.

During its just completed Fiscal Year (the SEPTA fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30) daily weekday ridership on SEPTA regional rail routes is up by about 6% compared to Fiscal Year 2005 with ridership averaging 107,000 daily weekday trips.

The ridership increase ranges across the regional rail system which operates throughout the five counties in Pennsylvania that comprise the SEPTA system as well as Trenton, New Jersey and Delaware. The largest increases occurred on the R1 Airport line which recorded a 21% increase, R3 Media-Elwyn with a 12% increase, R8 Fox Chase up 11% and R2 Warminster with a 10% increase in daily riders.

Because of consistent ridership gains SEPTA has purchased 104 new Silverliner V railroad cars with delivery expected to begin in about two years. In the interim, however, SEPTA continues to closely monitor ridership and alter regional rail schedules to effectively serve the highest number of passengers.

To meet changes in passenger travel patterns and increases in ridership, SEPTA regional rail schedules will change on Sunday, August 6. The most significant changes include:

*R5 Lansdale-Doylestown – regular train service will be restored on weekdays with the completion of a maintenance project. Shuttle buses have replaced midday train service on the line between Lansdale and Doylestown since April because of the project. The process of adjusting train service to accommodate increasing ridership at various stations will continue with this schedule. In addition, the inbound (to Center City Philadelphia) train that currently departs Doylestown Station at 6:44 a.m. will now leave three minutes earlier at 6:41 a.m. and maintain its Center City arrival time.

*R5 Paoli-Thorndale – trains have been retimed to account for increased ridership at various stations and to improve reliability in operations.The morning inbound train (Great Valley Flyer) that currently departs Thorndale at 6:56 a.m. will now leave four minutes earlier at 6:52 a.m. Ridership on the Great Valley Flyer has increased by about 45 percent since 2001 and the train is SEPTA’s longest revenue train with a total of seven cars. Also, the outbound train (to Malvern) that currently departs Suburban Station at 6:45 p.m. has been extended beyond Malvern to serve Exton, Whitford, Downingtown and Thorndale Stations, closing a 69-minute gap in service from Center City to those stations.

*R2 Warminster – on weekdays during midday, shuttle buses will operate in place of train service between Warminster and Glenside (inbound) and Warminster and Jenkintown (outbound) for approximately four months due to a maintenance project.

*R3 Elwyn – the inbound train (to Center City Philadelphia) that currently departs Elwyn Station at 6:57 a.m. will now leave Elwyn three minutes later at 7 a.m.

*R6 Norristown – the outbound train that currently departs Suburban Station for Elm Street Station in Norristown at 7:38 a.m. will now depart 3 minutes earlier at 7:35 a.m.

*R8 Chestnut Hill West – outbound trains (to Chestnut Hill) have been adjusted to account for increased ridership at various stations and to improve reliability in operations.

In addition, there will be some revisions to the Combined Glenside schedule for service between Center City and Glenside.

The new timetables are available now at Market-East, Suburban and 30th Street Stations and SEPTA sales offices. For schedule information riders should call (215) 580-7800.