SEPTA logs rail ridership increase since I-95 collapse

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority reported increased ridership on its regional rail lines since a portion of Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia collapsed June 11.

A tanker truck carrying gasoline crashed on an I-95 off-ramp. The gasoline ignited, causing a fire that burned so hot it apparently melted or weakened the steel beams of the overpass above, causing the section to collapse, according to The New York Times. The truck driver died in the crash; no other deaths or injuries occurred.

After the highway collapse, SEPTA personnel created a service plan to support immediate transportation needs, and are evaluating options for a longer-term service plan to support increased ridership while repairs are made, SEPTA officials said in a press release. The transit agency added rail cars to increase capacity on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase regional rail lines, and increased frequency on the Market-Frankford Line to every six minutes during peak hours.

Additionally, SEPTA police and maintenance personnel have been "repositioned" to support regional rail needs, SEPTA officials said.

The Fox Chase, Trenton, Warminster and West Trenton lines handled 14% more riders June 12 and 13 compared to ridership the week before, according to WHYY Radio. On June 14, ridership jumped a further 20% on the Warminster Line.

SEPTA's regional rail lines have been understaffed since before the pandemic, WHYY reported. Currently, the network is down 80 conductors, assistant conductors and engineers. However, 238 employees are currently assistant conductor trainees, while 26 are training to become engineers.

This stretch of highway is one of the most traveled in the country, used by about 160,000 vehicles every day. Repairs to the section could take months, forcing commuters to find other options to avoid traffic, the New York Times reported.

SEPTA's understaffing of the regional rail network has "now strained the system beyond the breaking point," said SEPTA locomotive engineer Don Hill, a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 71.

The transit agency should have 230 locomotive engineers to properly maintain its schedule, but SEPTA has only 167 today, with seven scheduled to leave the agency, BLET officials said in a newsletter. Prior to the collapse, SEPTA regional rail was operating at 60% of pre-pandemic service levels.

In order to add capacity to the Trenton Line, SEPTA had to cancel all train service on the Cynwyd branch, BLET officials said.

"SEPTA sees the I-95 collapse as an opportunity to bring back commuters and attract new riders. This change in travel patterns may become a missed opportunity unless they make some swift reforms and finalize an agreement with BLET," Hill said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition (USHSR) is calling for accelerated building of the nation's high-speed rail networks due to the collapse's impact on roadway traffic.

"When a disaster like this happens, it highlights that there is no adequate backup mode of transportation," said USHSR CEO Andy Kunz. "The entire East Coast could be impacted by the collapse of one bridge. High-speed rail can ensure that people will get to their jobs, and goods can get to markets, while major economic disruptions are avoided."