SEPTA to extend rail coverage with new rail cars, giant truck

Philadelphia, PA--The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is expanding as a result of a growing ridership. Providing these riders with a more comfortable commute will be made easier by the new Silverliner V rail car. The Authority has purchased 120 of these sleek cars from the South Korea based manufacturer.

Part of the expansion, in addition to new rail cars, includes reconnecting towns by "rail." Towns that at one time were linked to the regional rail system will once again be tied to Center City Philadelphia by the "rail" network. Well, sort of.

Extending rail service with new track and securing right-of-ways can drain a transit agency's wallet very quickly. This forced SEPTA to become extremely creative by not only thinking outside of the box, but also thinking outside of the area that is just outside of the box. SEPTA calls this method, "thinking outside of the outside perimeter of the box."

"Refurbishing or installing new rail lines is cost prohibitive," explained Pete Francis, a SEPTA Planner. "Placing these dashing new rail cars on the backs of large flatbed trucks will allow us to serve many more communities by 'rail' without devastating our budget."

The concept is fairly simple: when a train reaches a line's current terminus, a lifting device, most likely a crane, will elevate the car from the tracks and onto a truck.

For example, West Chester, where rail service concluded in 1983, will be linked to the R3 Line, which currently terminates in Elwyn. After being lifted by crane and set onto the oversized tractor trailer, the new, behemoth unit will make its way north on Route 352, escorted by police, with stops in Lima and Cheyney before ending on Market St in West Chester.

"We are so very excited to be getting rail service again," said Gail Davenport, West Chester's mayor. "I realize it's not rail service, but at the same time it is rail service. Heck, I'm just glad we're getting rail service. All aboard!"

With this revolutionary idea, SEPTA hopes to provide "rail" service to Phoenixville, Chadds Ford, Newtown and Quakertown in the next two years.

"People like rail travel. Period. And if we can provide our riders with the rail travel vibe, even though the rail car will be on the back of a truck, we feel it is in our best interest. Studies have shown that buses are terrible at replicating a 'train feeling,'" said Tyler Swanson, a SEPTA official, when asked why the region's transit provider wouldn't simply use buses, a much cheaper option, when reconnecting towns.

The transit agency has attempted several practice truck transports (shown above) and has streamlined the process down to six hours from the time the train stops at the final station until the car is safely secured to the trailer.

"Oh, it's quite a process to get the rail cars on and off the truck," said Swanson. "We are confidant, however, that in five years we can have the process down to about 1.5 hours. We are also hoping that the cost of transfer, now at $25,000, can be cut in half ... but, hey, these are federal rail dollars, so ..."