PATCO service restored after another morning of Philly commuter issues
All PATCO service was suspended for three hours Wednesday morning due to a power surge.
Philadelphia-area commuters experienced a double whammy of transportation problems Wednesday morning with PATCO and SEPTA issues.
All PATCO trains heading in and out of Philly were suspended for three hours during the morning commute due to a power issue. Service was restored around 10:30 a.m.
A PATCO spokesperson said a power surge from PSE&G caused a failure at PATCO’s Westmont Substation, blowing several fuses and impacting the agency’s ability to operate trains.
To help riders, NJ Transit cross-honored PATCO tickets and FREEDOM Cards. NJ Transit was also operating a special shuttle bus service, which made stops at all New Jersey PATCO stations and the Eighth and Market Station in Center City.
SEPTA delays persist
The issues come as SEPTA Regional Rail riders continue to face delays and cancellations due to an emergency order requiring the agency to inspect all its aging Silverliner IV cars.
On Wednesday, trains on the Chestnut Hill East and West Trenton Lines were forced to bypass stations due to capacity issues. Mechanical issues also plagued several lines during the morning commute.
“That is what decades of disinvestment look like,” Madison Nardy, director of the 215 People’s Alliance, told reporters Tuesday during a protest of the Pennsylvania legislature’s failure to properly fund mass transit.
The state budget is more than three months overdue, and there is no sign of a deal on funding SEPTA and other mass transit agencies.