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SEPTA Finishes FRA-Mandated Inspections of Entire Silverliner IV Fleet

Heat-detection retrofits are due by Dec. 5, with Regional Rail service expected to recover in stages.

Overview

  • All 223 Silverliner IV cars passed the federal 14-point inspection by Friday’s deadline following multiple fires earlier this year.
  • Only 76 cars have returned so far as crews repair issues found during inspections, including traction-motor insulation, contact tips, cabling, and resistors.
  • Thermal protection circuits are being installed across the fleet, with 67 cars completed and roughly five more outfitted and released each day.
  • SEPTA has leased 10 MARC coach cars to bolster capacity as pre-cancellations continue, with daily availability hovering between 87 and 120 cars.
  • Leaders project a gradual rebuild toward mid-December, and the inspection surge has already cost about $640,000 in overtime with roughly $120,000 more each week until work wraps.