(SEPTA issued the following news release on January 14.)
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA has implemented several late- night preventive maintenance routines and performance checks on its vehicles and infrastructure as it prepares for a mixture of cold air and snow moving through the area over the next few days.
SEPTA has not experienced any major system failures as a result of the conditions, however, with snow predicted tonight and temperatures possibly dipping into the single digits through the weekend, SEPTA crews will be on standby ready to safeguard its system and reduce service problems related to the weather.
Passengers should exercise extreme caution when boarding and departing all SEPTA vehicles during inclement weather and allow for extra time in their travel plans.
Maintenance crews have stockpiled about 1,500 tons of salt and have calcium chloride, snow blowers, plows and other equipment available to combat and remove ice and snow from station platforms and parking lots. Extra staff will also be in position ready to repair any problems throughout SEPTA’s service area.
SEPTA regularly tests and prepares its system for service each day. During the harsh winter months, crews also perform checks on the catenary and signal structures, store vehicles in garages and tunnels whenever it is deemed necessary, and heat and energize vehicles throughout the night.
The new Market-Frankford Line cars are equipped with a computer-controlled heating system and the majority of SEPTA’s bus fleet is installed with a system called pro-heat. The pro-heat system works to keep engines warm during the night. Heaters located on switches throughout the regional rail system are also turned on overnight to prevent freezing.
SEPTA will continue to perform nightly maintenance efforts to keep weather-related inconveniences to a minimum. Riders can call the SEPTA Travel Information Center at (215) 580-7800 or visit SEPTA online at www.septa.org for service updates.