SEPTA begins returning Silverliner V cars to service

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) late last week began putting its Silverliner V commuter-rail cars back in service.

On Aug. 31, the agency returned four vehicles to service after a structural defect was repaired in their suspension systems. As of today, SEPTA has returned 10 Silverliner V cars to service, agency officials said in an email.

The agency is running one six-car consist and one four-car consist, said SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch.

In July, SEPTA pulled all 120 Silverliner V cars out of service after SEPTA workers discovered fatigue cracks in the equalizer beams on 115 units. The equalizer beams are part of the rail-car suspension system and distribute the vehicle's weight to the axles.

SEPTA has hired PennFab Inc. to provide new beams for the cars.

All Silverliner V cars are expected to return to service by mid-November.