Philadelphia  –  PCCs Delayed

Rail Transit Online, July 2004

Restoration of streetcar service on Route 15-Girard Avenue has been indefinitely postponed.  June 13 had been set as the first day of operation with restored SEPTA PCC cars but the transit agency at the last minute issued a notice that buses would continue to operate until further notice, specifically “…until service is restored on 59th St between Girard Ave and Callowhill Street.”  That spur provides access to the Callowhill yard, where the PCCs are serviced and stored.  Although SEPTA gave no formal reason for the closure of the 59th Street trackage, local sources speculate it revolves around protests by merchants over the threatened elimination of parking on one side of the street that would provide additional clearance for trolleys.  PCC operation of Route 15 ended in 1992 because the vehicles were worn out and there were no replacements available.  The restored service will use 18 PCCs rebuilt and upgraded by Brookville Equipment Co. in central Pennsylvania.