SEPTA Regional Rail Lines Suspended Due To Signal Power Issues
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you absolutely must get around, SEPTA is trying to pave the way for its customers on its buses, trains and trolleys, as conditions permit.
The Trenton and Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail lines have currently been suspended until further notice due to Amtrak signal power problems.
The West Trenton Regional Rail line was suspended for a time due to a tree blocking the rails, but service has resumed.
No injuries were reported.
The Newark Regional Rail line has been suspended due to Amtrak switch problems.
SEPTA also suspended service the Route 70 and 129 buses due to inclement weather and icy road conditions.
Inside the "War Room" Wednesday at the SEPTA Headquarters Command Center, General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel and his top staff were identifying problem spots and take corrective action.
Knueppel says because of the heavy snowfall his bus network is seeing the most "service adjustments."
"They're in areas you'd kind of expect, where we have a lot of hills, or a lot of snowfall," he said Wednesday morning.
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While a several routes are suspended, dozens are on detour, cut back, or altered, to prevent buses from getting struck with passengers.
"'In a half an hour, we could lose 30-40 buses. So, we've learned over the years to go on preemptive detours," he said.
He says there could be lingering bus route problems in the morning, but the emphasis will be on clearing major routes that feed into the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines.
"The city streets department works well with us and PennDot to make sure they, as well as 69th Street Terminal and the Frankford Transportation Center," he said.
On the Regional Rails, the transit agency is running what it calls a Severe Storm Service Plan, with the intention of operating lines on a Saturday timetable, with adjustments, based on conditions.
"As long as we keep running, to some degree, we don't get into too much trouble on the tracks," he said.
Knueppel hopes people gravitate to SEPTA's two busiest routes.
"My employees know, the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway Lines are your best bets, he said. I tell my employees, we've got to make sure that those are running."
Similar to weekends, 24-hour weekend train service will be in operation through the night on the El and Broad Street lines.
Knueppel says a major focus will be getting ready for the Thursday morning commute, including clearing 150 railroad stations.
"'We've got to have the parking lots and platforms clear. That's a lot," he said.
His contractors are also under orders, try to minimize the amount of parking lost in SEPTA parking lots, as they move snow around.
