Philadelphia  –  Streetcars to Return Soon

Rail Transit Online, May 2003

Restoration of the streetcar infrastructure in the Route 15-Girard Avenue corridor will soon be completed in preparation for the return of rail service during 2004.  Operated by buses since 1992 when streetcars were “temporarily” withdrawn, Route 15 runs from Overbrook on the west end of the line to Port Richmond on the east.  Track has been replaced, new signals installed, island platforms for passenger loading built and a new modular substation installed at the Callowhill Maintenance Shop.  Route 15 will be operated with 18 upgraded and restored PCC cars, all of which are now at the Brookville Equipment Co. facility in central Pennsylvania.  Each car will be completely stripped and rebuilt with mostly new components including air conditioning and heating, propulsion and electrical systems and trucks and suspensions.  Other subsystems are being remanufactured and a wheelchair lift will be fitted to each car.  The first completed unit is scheduled for delivery to SEPTA this month, with the remaining cars to be returned by December.  Streetcars will run every eight minutes compared with the current bus headway of 12 min., providing a link to more than 20 SEPTA routes, including the Broad Street and Market Frankford rapid transit lines.