New Train Cars on Display

from the inbox:

A set of Silverliner V cars will be on display at Suburban Station's Track 0 for public review on Tuesday, April 13 through Thursday, April 15 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Years of development and design have helped shape the latest addition to the SEPTA fleet, which ushers in a new standard in Regional Rail comfort, safety and convenience.

Three completely outfitted Silverliner V Regional Rail pilot cars arrived in Philadelphia in late February. The cars were assembled overseas in Masan, South Korea by Hyundai Rotem Company, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Company, and will undergo inspection and extensive testing prior to being placed into service. The testing process is the first step in SEPTA's plan to put 120 new, state-of-the-art cars on the railroad, replacing portions of the fleet that date back more than 40 years.

"So much effort, planning and design has gone into the production of these new Regional Rail cars," said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. "To see this project go from concept to delivery of the pilot cars is tremendous. The new cars bring improved service and a better experience for our customers.”

The remainder of the growing fleet of cars is being assembled at the Hyundai Rotem plant in South Philadelphia. Up to 200 mechanics, electricians and supervisors will work on turning the shells into state-of-the-art Regional Rail cars.

The new cars will feature larger windows, wider aisles, an enhanced seating arrangement and the latest in climate control technology. The Silverliner V Regional Rail cars fully comply with American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) passenger car strength and safety requirements.

When completed each 85-foot long car will seat up to 109 passengers and upgrade the SEPTA Regional Rail fleet. The first Silverliner Vs are expected to be placed in service later this year.

The public is invited to be among the first to see the new cars and have their questions answered by SEPTA Customer Service and Rail Transportation staff on hand during the three day exhibit. Additional information about the Silverliner Vs can be found at www.septa.org/service/rail/silverliner.html.