Commuters in the Philadelphia area faced significant disruptions on Wednesday morning as PATCO trains were suspended due to an unidentified power issue. As of 8:30 a.m., there were no trains traveling in or out of Philadelphia, leaving many passengers waiting without any clear timeline for when services might resume.
The PATCO agency reported the outage was linked to a “PSE&G power issue,” but representatives from PSE&G stated they were unaware of any problems on their grid that could cause such an interruption. Crews are engaged in efforts to restore power, yet an estimated time for service restoration remains unavailable. As a result, PATCO is advising riders to seek alternative transportation options, with NJ Transit offering to honor PATCO tickets during this disruption.
Simultaneously, SEPTA riders are facing their own challenges, with delays and cancellations impacting the Regional Rail lines. This disruption is the result of an emergency order mandating inspections of the aging Silverliner IV cars. Specifically, trains on the Chestnut Hill Line and West Trenton Line were bypassing stations due to capacity constraints, with mechanical issues affecting additional lines during the rush hour.
Madison Nardy, director of the 215 People’s Alliance, attributed these ongoing issues to decades of underinvestment in public transit. Her comments echoed a sentiment shared by many, particularly as the Pennsylvania state budget remains unresolved for over three months, showing no immediate signs of funding for SEPTA and other transit agencies.
As commuters navigate through these challenges, the hope is for quick resolutions to the service interruptions and a renewed commitment to better funding for public transportation in the region.