SEPTA Trolley Service Update
SEPTA is advising customers that buses will fully replace all SEPTA T service on four upcoming weekends – beginning this Saturday, August 29– to allow crews to perform critical repairs to the 33rd Street electrical power substation.
Thirty-third Street substation powers T service in the Trolley Tunnel and along the Trolley diversion route. The substation has sustained water intrusion in recent weeks, and these repairs are necessary now to mitigate further intrusion and avoid potential unplanned outages.
Full details about the project and bus substitution are available on SEPTA’s website at https://wwww.septa.org/news/t-shuttle-bus/
About the Service Plan –
On the following weekends, all five T Lines (T1 – T5) will be bused for their entire on-street portions – between outlying stops and 40th & Market Street where customers can connect to/from the L to continue travel.
- Saturday, August 29 to Monday, August 31
- Saturday, September 12 to Monday, September 14
- Saturday, September 19 to Monday, September 21
- Saturday, September 26 to Monday, September 28
The tunnel will close at 2:00 AM on Saturdays, with a gradual transition to busing through the overnight hours. All five T Lines will be fully bused beginning by 5:00 AM Saturday through 5:00 AM Monday. Special Note for T4 and T5 Riders: On Monday mornings, some T4 and T5 trips will continue to operate as a bus to 40th St Portal for select trips through the afternoon hours.
During the four weekend work periods, the substation will be out of service affecting power to the Trolley Tunnel, as well as the diversion route, which typically operates to 40th Street when the tunnel is closed. Busing the entire aboveground routes and serving the same stops as the T Lines to 40th & Market Street means that riders will have a direct connection to the L and not require multiple transfers.
This work is scheduled for weekends when ridership is typically lower, but SEPTA states they understand the bus substitution will impact travel and appreciate customer patience as they undertake these critical repairs.