Normal Regional Rail service resumes after wire problems

Overhead wire problems caused delays for hours on multiple Regional Rail lines Thursday.

SEPTA began reporting delays on several lines around 10:45 a.m. Full service didn't resume until about 2:30 p.m., the transit agency said.

Service on the Airport Line was suspended for about an hour and a half due to the overhead wire issues, starting shortly before 11:30 a.m. Trains resumed running on the line at about 1 p.m.

In addition, service on the Wilmington-Newark Line was temporarily suspended, and delays continued through early afternoon.

The train that prompted the problems on the Wilmington-Newark Line stalled just outside the University City station, said Karie Simmons, a Philadelphia Inqurier reporter who was on the train.

SEPTA employees told riders that the train had to stop because a power line had fallen onto it. The power went out and lights later flickered on and off.

About half an hour later, workers came to stabilize the wire, Simmons said. The two front cars of the train had to be detached for workers to reach the power line.

Also due to wire problems, passengers on the Manayunk-Norristown and Media-Elwyn Lines experienced delays for several hours. Service on those routes was never completely stopped, though.