While the cars are being repaired,


more equipment was added to the system in the form of 18 leased cars including five from Amtrak, eight from NJ Transit and 15 from MARC. The cars were added to regional trains and by July 18, schedules were enhanced to address crowding on some of SEPTA’s most heavily traveled lines, including the Glenside Combined, Lansdale/ Doylestown,


Manayunk/Norristown,


Paoli/Thorndale, and Warminster Lines. Silverliner V cars built for Denver


RTD’s new commuter rail lines are not suffering the same fate as their east coast cousins. Rotem and RTD are working together to monitor the situation.


Scottsdale Rail Takes a Big Step Backwards


While nearby Phoenix, Ariz., has embraced its light rail system, the governing board of Scottsdale has struck down consideration for any kind of fixed- rail transit system within its city limits. According to an article in the Scottsdale Independent, on July 5, the board voted 5-2 to approve latest Scottsdale Transportation Master Plan update, which specifically excludes light rail as part of the city’s future. A councilwoman sought to remove the wording “excluding rail and modern street car” from the policy document, but that was defeated. The only designated route for a light


rail line in the original plan was a narrow thoroughfare, and this right-of- way is already overcrowded. The vice mayor contends the city’s uniqueness and character would be damaged and is quoted as saying that rail would destroy city streets and make Scottsdale a less special place.


SEPTA Leases Extra Equipment


Due to fatigue cracks discovered in the trucks of its Silverliner V EMU fleet, SEPTA has been forced to lease equipment from other local transit authorities including Maryland Area Rail Commuter, NJ Transit, and Amtrak. On July 19, Amtrak ACS-64 No. 659 and a set of MARC coaches made its way up the former Reading line to West Trenton, N.J. (ABOVE). NJT’s contribution was an eight-car set of Comet cars with ALP-46 No. 4627, seen at 30th Street Station’s upper level (LEFT) operating as SEPTA Train 1763 to Trenton, N.J. While these cars are often seen in Philadelphia on NJT Atlantic City runs, they stop exclusively at the lower level of 30th Street Station.


PHOTOS BY DARYL RULE (ABOVE) AND MARC GLUCKSMAN (LEFT)


20 SEPTEMBER 2016 • RAILFAN.COM


While residents have voted down


light rail in the past, this revision to the master plan will hinder mass transit planning in the city for years to come as it expressly forbids considering light rail or any future connection to the Phoenix system should the opportunity arise.


Denver RTD Opens Westminster Line


Denver’s second commuter rail line


opened on July 25, connecting Union Station with Westminster, just six miles away. Designated the “B Line” by the Regional Transportation District, officials said they are committed to finding additional funding that will allow the line to be extended to Boulder and Longmont. Unfortunately, the lack of funding is expected to delay any


extensions until at least 2030, according to recent reports in the Denver Post. This latest addition is part of the $5.3


billion FasTracks program to build out Denver’s transit system to serve a fast- growing region. The A Line to Denver International Airport opened this past April. The 11-mile G Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge will open before the end of 2016. The N Line to Thornton and Eastlake is expected to open in 2018. All RTD commuter rail lines use Rotem


electric multiple-unit cars that are similar in design to the Silverliner V series built for SEPTA. The cars built for RTD differ slightly in design, and as of this writing, no defects have surfaced. Top speed for the cars is 79 m.p.h. —O.M.V.


SEND YOUR TRANSIT NEWS to Bob Gallegos at transit@railfan.com.


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