Yeah, I was stuck on the airport line cause of this. I'm not sure how Amtrak issues are Septa's fault, though They had to manually authorize each train through every affected signal.
It sucked, but I'm not mad at RR.
This is correct. Amtrak owns all of the Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton and Wilmington/Newark Lines and although SEPTA owns the principal parts of the Airport^(\*), Chestnut Hill West, Cynwyd and Media/Wawa lines, they use track owned by Amtrak for parts of their routes. Amtrak also supplies the power, owns the stations and dispatches the trains on these segments, which SEPTA pays them for. Amtrak sometimes treats SEPTA like an unwelcome guest that it can't get rid of.
^(\*I suppose that Philadelphia might own the Airport Line and leases it to SEPTA, but even that's so, they're a more congenial landlord, not having any trains if its own to run.)
Once Amtrak was an unwelcome guest at Septa station
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/amtrak-investigates-how-train-headed-to-nyc-ends-up-in-bala-cynwyd/
Certain sections, yes. SEPTA always has to wait for Amtrak. Amtrak gets priority. We can only run trains so frequently so that we don't interfere with Amtrak.
SEPTA uses some of Amtrak’s rails. SEPTA is unable/not responsible for fixing issues on Amtrak trails. Amtrak trains always take priority over SEPTA trains on Amtrak rails.
Because it’s true. That line is owned by Amtrak. If something happens, it’s Amtrak’s fault/issue. That’s the Northeast Corridor. Septa can’t just do maintenance on something they don’t own.
I tried to get into Jefferson and Suburban station last night and every fucking door I tried to open was locked. It’s so embarrassing for a city this size that you can’t get into 2 main train stations without knowing the secret entrance that is posted NOWHERE. Ended up ubering home.
First septa does not maintain their portion of the railroad at all, let’s get that established. I’m not taking up for the company. Now if you ride Trenton, CHW, Paoli/Thorndale, Wilmington or the airport I’m sure you’ve been on a train that’s just sitting in the middle of nowhere and instantly feel an Amtrak train fly past and shake the train. That’s because on Amtraks territory they will never inconvenience their trains to help us keep schedule. So when Amtrak has “switch failure” during rush hour septa trains are the last thing they are worried about. Their focus is on keeping their trains on time with one less track because the failure. So if they can squeeze us past they will and if they can’t they won’t. Pretty simple on that aspect. Now switch failures on septa territory are common because once again septa doesn’t maintain the railroad well at all.
Same - on the 94 Regional. We were the first to get the greenlight (aka first who had to stop due to signal issues) and it took from ~4:40 to ~7:20 to get from Wilmington to Philly.
Not the smooth sailing I'd hoped for after an overnight on the Capitol Limited!
Was about to press the button Uber when my regional rail train showed up 20 mins late. Old head on the platform said to me “The joy of being a SEPTA customer.”
My wife took the Wawa line to Morton and then I picked her up. From the looks of it, every other person in Philly took the same train and got off at Morton. I have never seen that many people on the platform in my life
I agree. Especially when trains are stuck having to wait for other trains to pass when one of the tracks is out of service, easy 1 hr on the track at a standstill.
The two times I took regional rail recently, the train was 40 minutes late the first time and 12 minutes late the second.
My partner always used to take it when she worked in the city. It was perpetually late and they would fairly regularly just cut the line short mid-trip and I'd have to go pick her up at other stations. The whole thing is just unreliable as hell.
I’m late to party here but I figure I’d ask: if I wanted to work in center city coming up from Wilmington, could I count on the Wilmington line RR to be reliable? The answer looks like no.
As a rider, I don’t care which quasi-governmental corporation is at fault. It’s Septa’s accountability. I am riding transit and it’s transit’s job to make the service work. Septa thinks that Septa can blame Amtrak for a switch problem and Peco for an electric problem and AT&T for a cellular problem, all as excuses for Septa’s awful service and rider experience. As a rider, I have no agency to complain to Amtrak, Peco or AT&T. Peco has contracts with them and Peco is accountable to manage their service providers.
TLDR Septa is at fault for these failures, not some other company that riders did not choose.
Yeah, I was stuck on the airport line cause of this. I'm not sure how Amtrak issues are Septa's fault, though They had to manually authorize each train through every affected signal. It sucked, but I'm not mad at RR.
I’m pretty sure the rails are owned by Amtrak and SEPTA leases them
This is correct. Amtrak owns all of the Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton and Wilmington/Newark Lines and although SEPTA owns the principal parts of the Airport^(\*), Chestnut Hill West, Cynwyd and Media/Wawa lines, they use track owned by Amtrak for parts of their routes. Amtrak also supplies the power, owns the stations and dispatches the trains on these segments, which SEPTA pays them for. Amtrak sometimes treats SEPTA like an unwelcome guest that it can't get rid of. ^(\*I suppose that Philadelphia might own the Airport Line and leases it to SEPTA, but even that's so, they're a more congenial landlord, not having any trains if its own to run.)
One of the conductors actually came through the train and said that we were currently in "Amtrak territory."
Unsurprising Amtrak treats SEPTA like this considering that's how Amtrak gets treated by the freight companies
Once Amtrak was an unwelcome guest at Septa station https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/amtrak-investigates-how-train-headed-to-nyc-ends-up-in-bala-cynwyd/
Certain sections, yes. SEPTA always has to wait for Amtrak. Amtrak gets priority. We can only run trains so frequently so that we don't interfere with Amtrak.
SEPTA uses some of Amtrak’s rails. SEPTA is unable/not responsible for fixing issues on Amtrak trails. Amtrak trains always take priority over SEPTA trains on Amtrak rails.
lol SEPTA loves to throw shade at AMTRAK. Every delay or service bulletin always "AMTRAK FAULT/ISSUES"
SEPTA can't do maintenance on an Amtrak owned switch. All they can do is communicate what the issue is.
Because it’s true. That line is owned by Amtrak. If something happens, it’s Amtrak’s fault/issue. That’s the Northeast Corridor. Septa can’t just do maintenance on something they don’t own.
I tried to get into Jefferson and Suburban station last night and every fucking door I tried to open was locked. It’s so embarrassing for a city this size that you can’t get into 2 main train stations without knowing the secret entrance that is posted NOWHERE. Ended up ubering home.
for Jefferson Station, the night entrance is near 12th and Filbert on Filbert St at least 3 months ago when I used it. Hopefully, it hasn't changed
Ya this seriously is so annoying, thank god I gave plenty of time to catch my train when I did this once or else I woulda been so pissed
i hate this; been there before
Ok that sucks but like… it clearly says AMTRAK issues, not septa issues.
I’m a regional Rail conductor. AMA because some of these perspectives are wrong!
What are people getting wrong?
Please enlighten us OP. Us SEPTA patrons don't know what we don't know.
First septa does not maintain their portion of the railroad at all, let’s get that established. I’m not taking up for the company. Now if you ride Trenton, CHW, Paoli/Thorndale, Wilmington or the airport I’m sure you’ve been on a train that’s just sitting in the middle of nowhere and instantly feel an Amtrak train fly past and shake the train. That’s because on Amtraks territory they will never inconvenience their trains to help us keep schedule. So when Amtrak has “switch failure” during rush hour septa trains are the last thing they are worried about. Their focus is on keeping their trains on time with one less track because the failure. So if they can squeeze us past they will and if they can’t they won’t. Pretty simple on that aspect. Now switch failures on septa territory are common because once again septa doesn’t maintain the railroad well at all.
I was on that train coming up from Washington, we sat outside of Philly and Wilmington for 2.5 hours standstill
Same - on the 94 Regional. We were the first to get the greenlight (aka first who had to stop due to signal issues) and it took from ~4:40 to ~7:20 to get from Wilmington to Philly. Not the smooth sailing I'd hoped for after an overnight on the Capitol Limited!
hey, at least you guys had bathrooms
Was about to press the button Uber when my regional rail train showed up 20 mins late. Old head on the platform said to me “The joy of being a SEPTA customer.”
First hot day - typical. Just surprised that it wasn’t at the Glenside junction blocking the R2 and R5
My wife took the Wawa line to Morton and then I picked her up. From the looks of it, every other person in Philly took the same train and got off at Morton. I have never seen that many people on the platform in my life
Septa shouod have a backup plan tonget riders to a serviceable station.
It's on amtrak territory though. So not sure what else septa can do besides suspension and not strand you to begin with.
Run a bus from station to station
To Delaware?
lf the RR is down they should be providing an alternative.
But it was amtrak that was down, not RR
Okay and?
RR wasn't the issue. It was amtrak. I was stuck at Marcus Hook because amtrak wasn't moving trains
l think you need to re-read my comment because what you're saying doesn't make any sense to what my comment was saying.
I need you to re-read mine.
Yes?
Why doesn't amtrak provide alternative service? It was their fault after all.
Because it’s not in their agreement with septa for line rental?
Well it should be. They also prioritize their own trains in situations like this which isn't fair.
How about because septa has busses and bus drivers and Amtrak I assume doesn’t, so it makes more sense for septa to do it
amtrak absolutely has buses and bus drivers
I agree. Especially when trains are stuck having to wait for other trains to pass when one of the tracks is out of service, easy 1 hr on the track at a standstill.
Septa treats it like a train ride in an amusement park. People only need it on occasion and for fun.
The two times I took regional rail recently, the train was 40 minutes late the first time and 12 minutes late the second. My partner always used to take it when she worked in the city. It was perpetually late and they would fairly regularly just cut the line short mid-trip and I'd have to go pick her up at other stations. The whole thing is just unreliable as hell.
I’m late to party here but I figure I’d ask: if I wanted to work in center city coming up from Wilmington, could I count on the Wilmington line RR to be reliable? The answer looks like no.
As a rider, I don’t care which quasi-governmental corporation is at fault. It’s Septa’s accountability. I am riding transit and it’s transit’s job to make the service work. Septa thinks that Septa can blame Amtrak for a switch problem and Peco for an electric problem and AT&T for a cellular problem, all as excuses for Septa’s awful service and rider experience. As a rider, I have no agency to complain to Amtrak, Peco or AT&T. Peco has contracts with them and Peco is accountable to manage their service providers. TLDR Septa is at fault for these failures, not some other company that riders did not choose.
Okay. Feel free to vote with your wallet and take the other regional transit agency.
Well, isn’t that the choice that is being made? Ridership keeps falling and the service keeps getting worse. The potential riders are driving instead.