SEPTA to rent 10 commuter rail cars from Maryland to alleviate Regional Rail shortages.

SEPTA, the public transport authority serving Philadelphia and its suburbs, has confirmed an agreement to lease 10 passenger coaches from Maryland’s commuter rail service, known as MARC. This move aims to alleviate the ongoing capacity issues plaguing the Regional Rail system, which has faced a significant spate of cancellations and delays in recent weeks due to intensive safety inspections of SEPTA’s Silverliner IV fleet.

In addressing the situation, SEPTA officials indicated that the Silverliner IV cars, which have been in operation since the 1970s, have experienced critical maintenance challenges. The decisions to cancel numerous Regional Rail trips over the past month stem from these safety inspections, which were mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration following reports of multiple fire incidents involving some of the Silverliner IV units.

The lease agreement for the additional MARC coaches will incur a monthly cost of ,000 per coach, totaling approximately .6 million over the course of the one-year agreement. This arrangement was facilitated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which has allowed SEPTA to utilize capital funds for the lease instead of operational funds. The allocation for this rental expense will be reflected in SEPTA’s budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.

As SEPTA works to mitigate service disruptions, the agency has also solicited proposals for new railcars, with bids due by April 10. The procurement of these new cars, however, remains a longer-term solution and will not immediately address the pressing needs of the commuting public.

Currently, SEPTA reports substantial progress in completing the inspections of its Silverliner IV fleet. As of the latest update, inspections on 210 of the 223 coaches have been completed, representing approximately 94% of the entire fleet. Of these, 73 coaches have been reintegrated into service, aiming to reduce the strain on the Regional Rail lines.

Despite these efforts, the impact on commuters has been significant, with numerous cancellations occurring in recent days across lines including Airport, Fox Chase, and Chestnut Hill West. Looking ahead, SEPTA’s general manager expressed optimism about improvements, anticipating that the agency will be in a stronger position to restore service reliability by the end of the year.

In addition, the leased MARC coaches will require electric locomotives for operation, as these coaches do not have self-propulsion capabilities like SEPTA’s existing Silverliner models. The agency currently utilizes 15 electric locomotives alongside other passenger coaches for express services. As SEPTA forges ahead, plans are also in motion to overhaul the aging Silverliner IV cars to ensure they remain operational for an additional six to ten years, while new cars are expected to arrive in the near future.

This strategic initiative reflects SEPTA’s commitment to improving regional rail service and reinstating a dependable transportation network for Philadelphia commuters.