(The following article by Vernon Clark was posted on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on February 9.)
PHILADELPHIA — The familiar orange ticket vending machines at SEPTA regional rail stations have been taken out of service, officials said yesterday, because the machines could not accept the new dollar bills.
SEPTA spokesman Jim Whitaker said the machines were removed or sealed at the end of January.
“They were antiquated and could not accept the new paper currency,” Whitaker said. “Because of that, they were essentially useless.”
To assist riders, Whitaker said, the transit agency has extended the hours at its ticket offices at 30th Street Station, Market East Station and Suburban Station. On weekdays, the hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; on Saturdays and Sundays, the ticket offices are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
At Philadelphia International Airport and Trenton stations, riders can purchase tickets with no surcharge from conductors aboard trains.
Whitaker said SEPTA was looking into offering computerized “smart cards” or some other technology to assist riders in buying tickets.