SEPTA Faces Many Challenges During Recent Blast Of Snow Storms
By Syma Chowdhry
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)-- This is no ordinary repair shop!
Behind SEPTA's 69th Street train station is the company's repair hub, which has been busy due to the recent snow storms.
"A lot of preparation before the storm and a lot of reaction after the storm."
Ron Hopkins Assistant General Manager of Operations says their system faces many challenges during a snow storm, from doors unable to close because of ice, to motors breaking down.
"We know people rely on SEPTA and we want to make sure we can put our equipment out there and put it out there safely."
Hopkins adds, "The motors sit down on the ground and when it draws in snow, if the snow condenses and turns into water, it finds a weak spot and we burn out a lot of our motors."
And between the snow storms and freezing temperatures, SEPTA officials say their employees are working nonstop to get their trains back on track.
"All hands on deck type of approach to try to get out equipment back up and running for that Monday morning rush and come Tuesday, we are expecting that low temperature again."
The shop, normally closed on Sundays, is filled with employees making repairs which can take days and officials say they are doing the best they can.
Hopkins says, "Some of our trolleys and trains are 30 years old and we still continue to have problems and we are just trying to reach out and say 'be patient, we will get there.'"
Patience is key, considering Spring is more than 50 days away.
