Philadelphia SEPTA Restores Evening Express Trains
SEPTA restores evening express trains on Regional Rail after five-year pandemic suspension
SEPTA Adds Evening Express Trains on Regional Rail
Philadelphia commuters heading home from work can now catch faster trains on SEPTA's Regional Rail. The transit agency restored evening express service Monday by adding more cars to trains, officials said. The express trains skip select stops during the evening rush, though SEPTA didn't specify which lines will have express service or how much time riders will save. Morning express service remains unavailable due to staffing constraints.
Five-Year Gap Ends for Express Riders
SEPTA suspended all Regional Rail express service in March 2020 when the pandemic decimated ridership and forced service cuts. The agency has gradually restored service levels as riders return and staffing improves, according to transit officials. Scott Sauer, Assistant General Manager for Regional Rail, said restoring express service has been among customers' most requested improvements. Before the pandemic, Regional Rail carried approximately 132,000 riders on an average weekday across 13 lines and 154 stations.
More Cars Enable Express Stops
The express service restoration became possible because SEPTA added more cars to evening trains, increasing capacity to accommodate riders who'd otherwise board at skipped stops. Officials didn't specify the exact number of additional cars being deployed or provide estimates of time savings for express riders. The agency said it focused on evening service first because staffing levels can support the additional trains during that period. Current Regional Rail ridership figures weren't immediately available.
Service Started Monday Across System
SEPTA announced the service change Friday, April 25, giving riders a weekend's notice before the Monday, April 28 implementation. The agency hasn't announced a timeline for restoring morning express service, citing ongoing workforce challenges. Transit officials said they'll continue evaluating service improvements as staffing levels allow.
Riders Can Track Express Schedules
Commuters using evening express trains should see reduced travel times compared to local service, though the exact savings will vary by line and destination. SEPTA said detailed schedule information will be available as riders adjust to the restored service. Moovit provides real-time updates for SEPTA Regional Rail routes, helping riders identify express trains and plan their evening commutes.
