SEPTA and NJ Transit Resume After Blizzard
SEPTA and NJ Transit restore bus and rail service after historic blizzard dumps 2 feet of snow
SEPTA, NJ Transit Resume After Blizzard Suspensions
Transit riders across the Philadelphia and New Jersey region can return to buses and trains after the Blizzard of '26 forced widespread service suspensions Monday. SEPTA resumed more than 20 bus routes in Philadelphia and reopened Center City trolley tunnels, while NJ Transit restarted light rail operations Monday afternoon. The storm dumped nearly 2 feet of snow across southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, prompting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to issue a disaster emergency declaration Sunday.
Storm Forces Tri-State Transit Shutdowns
The major winter storm hit Sunday night and continued through Monday, leading transit agencies to suspend operations as travel bans took effect. New Jersey implemented restrictions on most roads that expired at noon Monday, with commercial vehicle restrictions ending at 5 p.m. Delaware lifted driving restrictions in New Castle County Monday evening, though Level 2 restrictions remained in Kent and Sussex counties. Transit agencies typically suspend service during severe weather when road conditions make safe operations impossible and travel bans prevent riders from reaching stops.
Phased Service Restoration Begins Monday
SEPTA's bus restoration began Monday with more than 20 routes returning to service, and officials hoped to restore some Regional Rail service Monday afternoon. Access Paratransit service resumed at 3 p.m. NJ Transit started resuming operations around 4 p.m. Monday with Newark Light Rail and River Line running on Sunday schedules. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail resumed service around 6 p.m. on a weekend schedule. Officials didn't specify which Regional Rail lines would return first or provide exact restoration timelines for remaining suspended services.
Modified Schedules Continue Tuesday
On Tuesday, most NJ Transit rail services will operate on Presidents Day schedules, while bus, Light Rail, and Access Link services will run on regular weekday schedules. SEPTA officials didn't announce specific Tuesday service plans beyond Monday's phased restoration. Transit agencies typically need several days to fully restore normal operations after major winter storms as crews clear snow from tracks, inspect equipment, and address weather-related mechanical issues.
Riders Should Expect Continued Disruptions
Commuters should expect possible delays, cancellations, or detours as services return to normal following the historic snowfall. Officials didn't provide estimates for when full regular schedules would resume across both systems. Riders can check real-time service updates and plan trips around weather-related disruptions through Moovit, which provides current information for SEPTA and NJ Transit routes throughout the region.
