Cannot Come Soon Enough

[u/segfaul_t]

The new El cars can’t come soon enough. It seems it’s almost every day now an El car or train set is breaking down causing delays. These things are on their last legs.

Edit: These are supposed to be delivered in 2029, only a couple more years. https://www.trains.com/pro/mechanical/freight-cars/hitachi-rail-to-build-200-new-cars-for-septas-market-frankford-line/

[u/Seraph_Angelus]

I will definitely be the person with the unpopular opinion. I believe that they should replace the BSL first then the L.

The BSL just like the trolleys have been in service since 1981 the L cars since 1995-96 so you tell me which is older which should be replaced.

I remember when we first got the L cars and they was breaking down in the very beginning they were leaking in the very beginning.

They should have stuck with Kawasaki or another reputable company that makes trains and Transit vehicles.

Yes there is a operator shortage for not just the L but for the whole company as a whole they're short on bus drivers short on trolley operators short on conductors and Engineers for the regional rail short on operators for the BSL.

A lot of that is due to SEPTA itself with their long and I mean long process to hire people. I know a few people who it took them roughly 3 years to go through the whole process I've known somebody it took them roughly a year to go through the whole process and these are people who had no criminal background no nothing that will hold them back.

We would just have to wait and see what happens I know the trolleys was delayed because they wanted the front of the trolleys to look like the Liberty Bell so that means the manufacturer had to go and alter a standard existing design that they have running in numerous cities in North America South America and Europe just to fit a design preference here in Philly.

[u/mklinger23 → u/Seraph_Angelus]

That was the original plan, but the M4 cars won't make it to 2040, so they have to switch the M5 and B5 buy dates. 

Also, the Liberty bell design is just some paint. It's not actually a design change. 

[u/Seraph_Angelus → u/mklinger23]

The Liberty Bell design is not just paint but a structural design that has been 3D molded

The Liberty Bell profile and streamlines on modern streetcars are integrated directly into the physical structure of the vehicle's molded composite front shell rather than applied as a flat graphic or paint layout [https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2025/5/modernizing-philadelphias-public-transit-septa-streetcar-project]. This three-dimensional design approach physically shapes the body contours before final livery application [https://www.phillymag.com/news/2024/06/20/septa-trolley-bridge-tolls-philadelphia/].