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SEPTA Finishes Trolley Tunnel Repairs, Begins Testing for Mid-January Reopening

A parts change accelerated wear on overhead wires, prompting two October evacuations.

Overview

  • SEPTA says overhead wire replacements are complete and test runs are underway, with a mid-January reopening estimated pending successful results.
  • The Center CityWest Philadelphia tunnel remains closed without a firm date as safety checks continue.
  • The shutdown followed a switch to 4-inch carbon sliders that degraded faster than expected and damaged infrastructure, leading SEPTA to revert to 3-inch parts.
  • About 60,000 daily riders have been using shuttle buses along Market Street or the Market-Frankford Line between Center City and the 40th Street portal.
  • Repairs included replacing roughly five miles of catenary, and the Federal Transit Administration ordered broader trolley system inspections on Oct. 31.