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One-Third Of SEPTA's Market-Frankford Rail Cars Pulled Off Tracks

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Big problems today on SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line after a third of the rail cars were taken off the tracks.

SEPTA says crews found cracks in the body bolster, which is a main load carrying beam, on two Market-Frankford Line trains over the weekend.

After further inspection, SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel says about 60 cars are affected by cracks.

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Because of that, SEPTA needed to inspect all cars on the line, says spokeswoman Heather Redfern.

"We normally have 144 cars in service for the regular morning rush hour. We're 40 short of that this morning," said spokeswoman Heather Redfern.

Redfern says that does not necessarily mean there are cracks on all cars that were taken out of service.

Access panels are being cut in the rail cars' floors to see if cracks have spread and further inspections will reveal any other issues on these cars that are about 20 years old.

The trains that run along the line were delivered in 1998.

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Officials say this issue is different than the cracks that plagued the Regional Rail line cars over the summer.

"This is an extraordinary mission we are undertaking, but we feel it's important to restore confidence," Knueppel said.

He adds that things went a little smoother than expected this morning as they believe the Super Bowl may have played a factor with a lot of people taking the day off.

And so far, officials aren't exactly sure how long this problem will last on the Market-Frankford Line. Supplemental busing will remain in place.

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