West Philly trolley line derailed by sinkhole returns to service

The Route 34 trolley returned to full service Monday afternoon, SEPTA reported, almost three weeks after a massive sinkhole in Baltimore Avenue made its route unusable.

The line serves 12,500 riders on workdays along Baltimore Avenue, then dipping into the tunnel to 13th Street in Center City. Service had been inactive between 61st Street and Baltimore to the tunnel entrance at 40th Street since June 4, when a sinkhole opened at 43rdStreet and Baltimore, the result of a sewer failure. The hole eventually gaped 20 by 20 feet wide and was at least 12 feet deep. People in the neighborhood, displaying a resigned sense of humor, threw offerings into the pit in a mock religious ceremony.

SEPTA had been using buses to circumvent the compromised street.

Repairing the sinkhole took less time than expected. Just a week ago, SEPTA had anticipated not getting the trolley back into full service until next Monday.