SEPTA Cancels Dozens of Trains Amid Safety Inspections

PHILADELPHIA, PA — SEPTA has announced the cancellation of at least two dozen Regional Rail trains for the third consecutive day due to ongoing federally mandated safety inspections. These inspections need to be completed by the deadline of November 14.

The cancellations affect the Airport, Chestnut Hill West, Fox Chase, and Warminster lines, according to the transit agency. The trains canceled for Wednesday morning include: 9411, 412, 425, 802, 809, and 814. Additionally, numerous trains have been canceled for both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings.

SEPTA has reported that riders might experience fewer and more crowded rail cars on trains that are still operational, with potential missed stops, especially near Center City. The agency mentioned that shorter trains are being deployed, as some are out of service daily. Approximately 200 to 300 riders are affected by each canceled train, as each car typically accommodates about 100 passengers.

The safety inspections were initiated after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged SEPTA to temporarily halt the operation of its entire Silverliner IV fleet following multiple train fires this year. Currently, 204 of the 223 Silverliner IV cars have been inspected, but 131 remain out of service for further repairs and maintenance.

“Most of these repairs are not safety-sensitive items,” said Andrew Busch, a SEPTA spokesperson. “They include replacing cables, contact tips for electrical components, and other hardware that we come across during inspections.”

To reduce the strain on operations, SEPTA has arranged to use 10 rail cars from Maryland for six months, beginning in mid-December. However, disruptions for Regional Rail riders are expected to continue until January 2026.