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SEPTA car shortage looms; expect more crowding

SEPTA Regional Rail trains will be more crowded than usual this summer, as crews take railcars out of service to install equipment needed for a new "positive train control" system.

SEPTA Regional Rail trains will be more crowded than usual this summer, as crews take railcars out of service to install equipment needed for a new "positive train control" system.

SEPTA said "10 or more" cars in the 351-car fleet will be out of service at any given time for the upgrades until at least November.

That will mean many trains, which are often six cars long, will be shortened by at least one car. And that will mean packed conditions for passengers in the remaining cars.

In addition, normal car inspections and unexpected repairs typically take about 60 cars out of service, SEPTA said.

SEPTA is racing to meet a Dec. 31 federal deadline for installing positive train control, which is designed to prevent collisions and derailments like the deadly Amtrak Train 188 crash on May 12.

"With ridership at record-breaking levels, taking even one car out of the revenue fleet can impact customers and service," SEPTA said in an announcement to passengers on its website. "We know that you've noticed and are annoyed by the shortages and crowding but we ask you to please bear with us while we complete this lifesaving safety improvement work."

SEPTA operates 740 weekday trips on 13 Regional Rail lines.