Tip #6 - Warm Weather Season

You may not realize it, but the good weather months – particularly summer time – present as many operational issues for SEPTA as the slippery rail and the snow seasons. Extremes in heat or extended periods with high temperature and humidity bring their own set of service concerns, with potential impacts to customers and our infrastructure.

When the temperature rises above 90°, the actual temperature of the overhead wires will be closer to 120°-130°, which can cause them to sag. On these days, SEPTA operates all train service under a mandated speed restriction to help minimize the risk of damage to wires as trains travel on the line. Welded rails are also subject to changes in temperature, so when the rail temperature reaches 90°, special inspections and patrols are deployed to ensure that conditions are safe for train travel.

On the customer side of our service, we know that everyone wants to enjoy a few minutes of air conditioning on their daily train commute and the Rail Transportation and Rail Mechanical staffs have their own procedures to try and make sure your ride is a cool one. All cars placed in service are checked daily to ensure that the air conditioning is working. When temperatures are expected to be 85° or higher, the car air conditioning systems are activated, at the Rail yards, 15 minutes prior to being sent into service. Additionally, when the temperatures are expected to climb, our Mechanical personnel check the cars to determine if the interior temperature is above 75°.  Any problems are reported to the Control Center and depending on conditions, the car may be immediately removed from service. Sometimes the car remains in the consist, but will not be available for customers to use. Your Conductor will follow the same procedure if they find that the air conditioning of a car already in service is not working properly.

Having gone through an extremely wet spring and early summer, you may also know that heat isn’t the only challenge. Severe thunderstorms and flooding of all types – flash, river, and urban and small stream – are some of Mother Nature’s specialties that can test Rail operations. SEPTA has procedures in place to monitor changing conditions while maintaining safe rider operations. The Control Center keeps watch over weather reports and are in contact with train personnel and the infrastructure engineers and inspectors. All rail lines, including bridges, have been evaluated to determine exactly where flooding is most likely to occur and a pre-established speed restriction plan is in place for flood conditions. Always listen to local news reports or check the SEPTA website for up to date weather related service changes.