Winter Weather | General Plan

System Status

Please check System Status for a complete view of the SEPTA system with just the click of a mouse or touch of a screen. In one neat snapshot, you can see if service is running according to schedule or if there is any alteration in service.

Important Phone Numbers and Updates

(215) 580-7800 | Customer Service
(215) 580-7145 | CCT Customer Service

Safety During a Storm

Our primary concern is your safety.

Use extreme caution when boarding and departing vehicles during inclement weather

Dress appropriately for the weather

Allow for extra travel time in the event of delays due to inclement weather

Click here for general safety tips

Preparation for winter weather conditions includes stockpiling several tons of salt and equipment such as snowplows, front-end loaders and salt spreaders. During a snowstorm or ice emergency, crews clear equipment and facilities and make sure vehicles are ready for service.

If the weather becomes too severe for regular operation of any route or service, SEPTA will announce the suspension of service one hour before the scheduled time service ends. Information will immediately be sent to news outlets and posted throughout official SEPTA web communcations.

Official web communications include System Status, Twitter and ReadyNotifyPA.

Regional Rail

2015 Regional Rail Winter Storm Service Plan

The weather forecasters are predicting another harsh winter, with snow accumulations and icy conditions. After last year's relentless rounds of storms, SEPTA evaluated its Winter Service Plan and identified several changes for Winter 2015. This new plan is designed to improve service coverage and help alleviate crush loads for customers trying to depart Center City during midday hours and to help maintain service in the event of a severe storm.

Snow removal plan for station platforms & parking

Frozen switches and ice on overhead wires or pantographs (the electrical poles on top of rail cars) can delay or shut down Regional Rail service. Maintenance crews work to keep the corridor between Center City Philadelphia and Lansdale open so we can continue to provide service on the main branch if frozen switches prevent trains from operating on other lines. On the Wilmington/Newark Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line and Trenton Line, Amtrak is the owner of the tracks we travel on, so SEPTA must work with Amtrak to resolve weather-related problems.

Subway Lines

The Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line are best bets for riders during severe winter storms. We keep the cars ready for service by storing them overnight in tunnels and maintenance car houses and we assign crews to keep station entrances, platforms and sidewalks clean of ice and snow.

Bus Routes & Trolley Lines

During a winter snow or ice emergency, SEPTA will attempt to operate all bus service, although a large number of routes may be detoured. We will attempt to maintain service without detours on our most heavily used routes, which generally operate over streets that have been given a high priority for snow removal.

CCT Connect

Depending on road conditions, full CCT service may be provided in some areas, while limited or no service may be provided in others. During extreme weather conditions when CCT service is suspended, every effort will be made to continue service for kidney dialysis and other urgent, critically-needed medical treatment.