SEPTA still plagued by new-schedule ills

SEPTA continues to have problems with the introduction of its new Regional Rail schedules, with the agency contending with misprints and a smartphone app that is not showing users updated routes.

SEPTA officials recommended that riders rely exclusively on the transit agency's website, SEPTA.org, for accurate schedules.

"We're working as quickly as we can" to fix the app, said Richard Burnfield, SEPTA's deputy general manager. "We're literally going through thousands of data points."

He would not specify when the app would be functioning properly.

Starting Sunday, SEPTA sought to address endemic delays by shortening the Warminster and West Trenton Lines and adjusted the Airport Line to travel between Philadelphia International Airport and Jenkintown.

Also, train schedule changes occurred throughout the Regional Rail system. Since then, the app has failed to update to the new schedules, so passengers are riding trains only to find themselves speeding past their destinations. Some have complained about being charged extra for going outside the zone they paid for because of the confusion.

This exacerbated the problem with the misprinted copies of Regional Rail schedules. SEPTA has removed the erroneous schedules from train stations, and new ones are being printed at a cost of up to $20,000.

Riders with questions can also contact SEPTA customer service at 215-580-7800.

- Jason Laughlin