SEPTA adding express buses to some rush hour Regional Rail routes

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - More help is coming for Regional Rail commuters while work progresses on those cars in its Silverliner V fleet that are out of service.

SEPTA says it's going to offer supplemental Express Bus service during morning and evening rush hours along some of the most heavily travelled routes.

This will start right after Labor Day - on Tuesday, Sept. 6 -- to accommodate increased ridership as customers return from summer vacations and students head back to school.

Combined with the Interim Weekday Regional Rail Schedule, the AM/PM Express Bus service should give customers more travel flexibility and frequent service.

Express Buses will operate from limited stations with hourly departures 6:30-8:30am, and 4-6pm.

Regular transit fares will apply.

Here are the details:

Chestnut Hill East, Chestnut Hill West, Wyndmoor/St. Martins and Sedgwick Stations (Chestnut Hill East and West Lines): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center to connect with the Broad Street Line and Broad Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart at 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am from Chestnut Hill East Station, with stops at Chestnut Hill West Station, Wyndmoor/St. Martins Station and Sedgwick Station.
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm with stops to the same stations.

Fox Chase Station (Fox Chase Line): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center for connections with the Broad Street Line and Broad Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart Fox Chase Station at 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm to Fox Chase Station.

Jenkintown-Wyncote and Elkins Park Stations (Airport, Warminster, West Trenton and Lansdale/Doylestown Lines): To-and-from the Fern Rock Transportation Center for connections with the Broad Street Line and Broad Ridge Spur:
- AM Express Buses depart at 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am from Jenkintown-Wyncote Station and stop at Elkins Park Station.
- PM Express Buses depart Fern Rock at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm to Jenkintown-Wyncote and Elkins Park.

Ivy Ridge, Manayunk and Wissahickon Stations (Manayunk/Norristown Line): To-and-from Suburban Station in Center City:
- AM Express Buses depart at 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am from Ivy Ridge Station, then stop at Manayunk Station and Wissahickon Station en route to Suburban Station.
- PM Express Buses depart 17th Street and JFK Boulevard at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm to the same outlying stations.

Swarthmore Station (Media/Elwyn Line): To-and-from AT&T Station for connections with the Broad Street Line:
- AM Express Buses depart at 6:30am, 7:30am and 8:30am from Swarthmore Station for travel to AT&T Station.
- PM Express Buses depart AT&T Station at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm to Swarthmore.

In addition to the Express Bus service, SEPTA continues to lease five rail cars from Amtrak, eight from NJ Transit and 19 from Maryland Area Commuter Service (MARC). An additional 16 leased MARC cars will be put into service on SEPTA's Regional Rail system shortly after Sept. 1, bringing the total of leased rail cars in passenger service to 48.

Where possible, SEPTA also encourages Regional Rail riders to use transit modes, including buses, trolleys, the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line and Norristown High Speed Line.

Click here for Regional Rail Schedules, alternative modes of travel, parking and the latest service updates related to the rail car shortage.

In addition, next week, SEPTA plans an update on the status of the Silverliner V repairs and their return to service.