Paoli-Thorndale (R5) Service
Affected by Construction Project

May 3, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA — An extensive Amtrak railroad track improvement project along its vital Northeast Corridor will impact SEPTA Paoli-Thorndale (R5) Regional Rail train service for approximately seven months beginning Monday, May 7.

Initially, Amtrak will replace a 14.5-mile long section of inbound track between Paoli and Overbrook Stations that is shared by both SEPTA and Amtrak for train operations. Project work will shift to the outbound tracks in August.

This is a joint project being undertaken by Amtrak, PennDOT and SEPTA. At the completion of all work, scheduled for the end of November, passengers will enjoy a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable ride as a result of the new concrete ties and continuous welded rail installation. SEPTA Paoli-Thorndale (R5) customers will also experience increased travel speeds, reduced travel times, and enhanced service reliability.

New SEPTA schedules will go into effect for Paoli-Thorndale service on Sunday, May 6, 2007 and will reflect increased travel times for passengers during weekday peak- and off-peak periods, as well as weekend service alterations during the construction period.

For the initial phase of the improvement project, May 7 through mid-August, Paoli-Thorndale train service will change as follows:

• Inbound Service (to Center City Philadelphia)
  Most weekday peak trains will leave stations earlier than current train times enabling customers toarrive in Center City at about the same time as the current schedule. Additionally, inbound trains will operate on Track #2 requiring passengers to use cross track platforms to board trains.
• Off peak weekday trains will operate hourly instead of every half-hour. Also, Paoli-Thorndale passengers traveling to Lansdale-Doylestown will have to transfer to connecting trains in Center City. Passengers traveling beyond Glenside may experience transfer time delays of up to 44 minutes.
• Outbound Service (to Paoli-Thorndale)
  Service will operate hourly.
  Although the initial work is taking place on the inbound track, there will be adjustments to some outbound weekday train times, destinations, and platform boarding locations.
• Weekend service (Inbound and Outbound)
  SEPTA is undertaking a separate project on the Lansdale-Doylestown segment of the line that will require weekend service adjustments. All scheduled inbound trains on the Paoli-Thorndale line will leave up to 15 minutes earlier (except for the last two trains) and all outbound trains will leave 11 minutes later (except for the final five trains) than current train times.

The new Paoli-Thorndale (R5) schedule in effect during the project is available at stations and online. SEPTA has also prepared a customer brochure with information on how service will be impacted by the project. Notices have also been posted at stations and passenger schedules will be distributed at parking lots.

Passengers may call the SEPTA Customer Service Department at (215) 580-7800 for all service information.