This morning at around 8am, a two car rt 100 train (probably a Norristown Express) slid through the Norristown Station and hit the bumper a bit too hard.  Nine people suffered minor injuries (although one was taken away on a stretcher), yet the damage doesn't seem to bad on the car. 

The line was shut down between Hughes Park and Norristown for investigation (the cause of the accident is unknown at this time), with shuttle buses providing replacement service.

Photographs can be found here: http://www.nbc10.com/news/11384190/detail.html?dl=mainclick.

New Jersey Transit has schedule changes throughout the state that will start on March 31st.  In Camden County, besides minor time adjustments, these are the notable highlights (from the NJT website):

Route 318 - Philadelphia - Camden - Six Flags Great Adventure - weekend service will start for the 2007 season on Saturday, April 7th.

Route 453 - Camden - Ferry Ave PATCO - The route will be adjusted to operate via Antioch Manor on Van Buren Street at Ferry Avenue and Ferry Manor on Davis Street at Ferry Avenue

Both 5151 and 5140, former TH Properties NABIs, had there wraps removed in the past couple of weeks.  Although they haven't been repainted (and look horrible cosmetically), 5140 was spotted with another ad this morning. 

Later, 5658 was missing its wrap as well, and most likely 5657 is in the same state.  The ending of the TH Properties bus wrapping compaign ended after quite a few years (and buses) of wrapping buses, which included the late 3487 and 3488, as well as two other Neoplans before them.

Richard Sarles was selected to become Executive Director of New Jersey Transit, replacing George Warrington.  He has an impressive background in transit, which includes working with Amtrak to establish High Speed Service and electrify to Boston, as well as working with PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) in the rehabilitation of their railcars.  With New Jersey Transit, he also helped to start the RiverLINE in addition to extensions to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail and Newark Light Rail in Northern New Jersey.  You can read more about him in New Jersey Transit's press release.

SEPTA started the first hearing today in Delaware County.  As you may already know, these hearings are in regards to SEPTA's Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal, including the increase in fare among other things.  Depending on whether or not the state legislature comings bearing good money, the fares may increase 11 percent or 25 percent.

The other hearings are at these locations and times - why not voice your opinion in regards to the proposal, accessible by clicking here:

Montgomery County Human Service Center
(formerly Sacred Heart Hospital)
Community Room – Main Floor
1430 Dekalb Pike
Norristown, PA 19404
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania Convention Center
One Convention Center Place
1101 Arch Street, Room 204ABC
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Thursday, April 12, 2007
11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

West Chester Borough Hall
Council Chambers
401 E. Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
Friday, April 13, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Bucks County Free Library
Pearl Buck Meeting Room
150 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Monday, April 16, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit the SEPTA website.

During the next schedule change, the #7295 which set to depart suburban station at 5:12 to Newark is schedule to receive a Push-Puller set!! It also states on the chart, this train consist will also be running local from Suburban station to Newark Delaware as well which is a pretty interesting practice considering that the AEMs were not built to operate under such conditions as their Muti-unit (MU) counterparts. 

For more infomation:

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/index.php?showtopic=1020&st=0&#last

New Jersey Transit's Board of Directors approved the new fares that will become active on June 1st, 2007.  There have been a few changes as a result of passenger comments, but some highlights include:

*Raising of Interstate Zone 1 fares (Philadelphia to Camden) to $1.45
*Base fare (Zone 1 Instrastate) is raised to $1.35
*Atlantic City Line will cost $7.27 to Atlantic City from Philadelphia, and $3.25 from Lindenwold

More information on the fare changes can be found here: http://www.njtransit.com/var/var_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=FPPDFTo