SEPTA Debuts New ACS-64 Electric Locomotive at Chestnut Hill

Philadelphia, Pa, July 11, 2018 – SEPTA celebrated the debut of its new ACS-64 electric locomotive today with a commemorative ‘Inaugural Run’ ceremony at the Chestnut Hill East Station. It is the first of 15 ACS-64 electric locomotives SEPTA is purchasing from Siemens as part of an overall effort to improve SEPTA’s regional rail capacity, performance and reliability. The purchase of these new locomotives was made possible by Act 89, Pennsylvania’s comprehensive funding transportation bill.

The new equipment allows SEPTA to replace 8 aging locomotives, including the last remaining AEM-7 models still running in the country, while expanding its fleet. The new locomotives will be deployed throughout SEPTA’s commuter network and will be in service with SEPTA’s existing rail cars and eventually will be paired with a new fleet of multi-level coaches that have been ordered from CRRC MA Corp.

The ACS-64 electric locomotive is equipped with a FastBrake New York Air Brake System and electronically controlled pneumatic brake system that is suited for push-pull operation without turning. With a wide-body, double-cab design, the locomotive also features an integrated Crash Energy Management System, is equipped with regenerative braking and an onboard Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) control unit including train radio, automatic train control and positive train control. The engineers cab and amenities on the ACS-64 have been designed with the assistance of the Brotherhood of Engineers Cab Committee.

“Without Act 89, long-needed fleet upgrades like this simply would not be possible,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. “These are the types of projects that keep people, goods and services moving and are critical to the growth and economic vitality of the region and the state.”

“SEPTA’s Regional Rail Ridership has grown by more than 50 percent over the last 15 years,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. “The addition of these new Siemens ACS-64 locomotives is critical for SEPTA to expand capacity and meet the needs of our riders.”

“This locomotive is not only powerful, but also efficient and reliable” said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Rolling Stock in the U.S. “We are proud that these locomotives got here on time and in great working condition, and we are excited to work with SEPTA to improve availability so more Philadelphians can get to their destinations safely and on time.”

The ACS-64 electric locomotive has a proven service record with over 24 million track miles in revenue service with similar ones operating on the Northeast Corridor that have brought enhanced transportation benefits to riders while reducing delay incidents by 25 percent and delay times by 30 percent. In conjunction with the planned purchase of new multi-level passenger cars, SEPTA will be able to provide additional capacity to accommodate its growing ridership.

                        Photo/story by Joseph M. Calisi ©2018 All Rights Reserved

Photo Caption: SEPTA announced the arrival of its new ACS-64 electric locomotives at their Chestnut Hill East Station with a commemorative ‘Inaugural Run’ ceremony on July 11, 2018. Invited guests had an opportunity to tour the new technologically advanced locomotive. 

Photo courtesy: SEPTA

SEPTA Announces Trolley Tunnel Blitz For 9 Days In July

Philadelphia, Pa, July 2, 2018 – Due to power, track and station improvement projects, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 are not operable in Philadelphia’s Center City tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, July 13, through 4 a.m. on Monday, July 23. Trolley service begins/terminates at 40^th and Market Streets as trolleys are redirected to their alternate diversion service routing allowing for connections to SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line at 40^th and Market Streets. Trolley passengers can change for the Market-Frankford Line at the 40^th Street Station for travel to-and-from Center City, as the work efforts don’t affect that service.

This is the fifth consecutive summer SEPTA has conducted the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. During this year’s nine-day tunnel closure, members of SEPTA’s in-house Engineering, Maintenance and Construction Division crews work around-the-clock on key maintenance and construction tasks throughout the five-mile, single loop Center City tunnel. 

                 Photo and story by Joseph M. Calisi (c)2018 All Rights Reserved

SEPTA Media-Sharon Hill Trolley Service Changes Begin on July 20

Philadelphia, Pa., July 15, 2015 -

Buses are being used in place of trolleys along SEPTA Routes 101 and 102 (Media-Sharon Hill Line) through Sunday, September 6, 2015 due to a 12-week trolley modernization project. New timetables for Routes 101 and 102 will begin on Monday, July 20. The new schedules reflect some Route 101 trip time adjustments and Route 102 bus re-routing to accommodate track construction on Springfield Road and Woodlawn Avenue.

The Media-Sharon Hill Line is comprised of three parts: the trunk from 69th Street Transportation; Center to Drexel Hill Junction (Shadeland Avenue) used by both Route 101 and 102; stops from Huey Avenue to Media used by Route 101, and; stops from Garrettford to Sharon Hill used by Route 102.

 

During the 12-week summer trolley shutdown, 16 SEPTA in-house and third party contractor groups will work on a variety of projects on all three portions of the line. The work schedule will typically be Monday-Saturday, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

 

Scheduled work in 10 phases over the 12-week period on Route 102 are:

·         Rail replacement;

·         Concrete roadway and repaving the parking lanes, and;

·         Installation of rubber rail boots around the new rails to lessen vibration and noise.

 

The last time the trolley track and roadway were replaced in this area was 1983.

 

During this first of 10 phases of the construction, substitute Route 102 buses between Clifton Heights and Aldan will travel via Baltimore Avenue, Oak Avenue and Providence Road due to the Springfield Road and Woodlawn Avenue construction as trips will be15-20 minutes longer.

Boarding locations will be moved to Baltimore Avenue at Trolley Station and Providence Road at Woodlawn Avenue. For details, visit: http://septa.org/rebuilding/101-102-modernization-phase-2.html.

 

For more information on the Route 101/102 Trolley Modernization work, visit http://www.septa.org/rebuilding/101-102-modernization.html.

SEPTAs Trolleys Halted During Their Trolley Tunnel Blitz

Philadelphia, Pa, Wednesday, July 16, 2014 – SEPTA is following a trend other transit agencies around the country are practicing, an intensive 24/7 period of maintenance that requires a service outage for a period of time and is being nicknamed the ‘Trolley Tunnel Blitz’ for the Center City Trolley Tunnel. Beginning August 1, 2014, a 17-day period of no trolleys operating on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 which will be repaired for the over 5-mile tunnel route. These routes be diverted to 40th and Market streets and riders may transfer at 40th Street to the Market-Frankford Line for service to and from Center City.

New welded trolley rail, track switches, emergency lighting cables, and overhead wire are part of the maintenance program.

In a press release, SEPTA said, “Given that the Trolley Tunnel is a 5+ mile long, single track line, the length of our regular service day, and the number of Trolley routes operating through the tunnel it would take many months of night and weekend outages, spread out over the year, to complete the amount of work we have planned during this Blitz. An extended work window, during a traditionally low ridership period, makes it possible for our Track, Power, Communications and Signals, and Bridges and Buildings Maintenance Departments to efficiently complete important construction and maintenance projects that will benefit our customers."

The project is funded the Act 89 dedicated funding bill that provides the resources needed for SEPTA to begin Rebuilding for the Future. The Trolley Tunnel Blitz is part of a comprehensive infrastructure and revitalization program that tackles a $5 billion backlog of projects, including bridge replacements, substation, overhauls, and station improvements.