Earlier this week, Elizabeth Mintz, the communications director of SEPTA, reported to the Citizens Advisory Committee that the Regional Rail "R" designators will be ELIMINATED starting July 25th, 2009.  Instead, the lines will be named by their terminus, similar to the way that the general line destinations are posted today.  The only exception will be the R6 Norristown line, which SEPTA will rename the Manayunk/Norristown line, since Manayunk is a primary destination on the line.

Along with the elimination of the "Rs", the line colors will disappear as well.  Instead, all lines will be represented in the typical Regional Rail gray that you find on the maps and signs downtown today.

This is part of SEPTA's customer service initiative, an effort to make the system easier to understand for occasional and first time riders.  For more details on this particular change, view the following article at PlanPhilly.com: http://planphilly.com/regional-rail-numbers-will-go-away-july-25

As mention yesterday, the demo of the 2010 order of hybridson display yesterday at 1234 Market St. The design of the bus is extremely new to the New Flyer Market.

Photographer: Buswizard

As shown in the photos, the roof cap is now one panel, and lights at the rear are completely designed. Much different then what's currently availible on the New Flyer units.

According to Ctrabs, the first of the units will arrive at Victory first to operate on the route 101 and 102 as bus shuttles. Delivery is set to begin next month.

What a way to wrap up an already interesting week. You can find info in this topic: http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7191014/1/

SEPTA's new Silverliner V pilot cars (701, 801 and 802) finally arrived at Philadelphia's Packer Terminal on Sunday, February 28th. They are headed for Roberts Yard, where they will go under significant testing.  It's also important to note that while the specifications were changed so that the production cards will have full width cabs, these pilot cars have half cabs for now.

These pilot cars came with 9 Silverliner V shells, which will be used at the Philadelphia-based Hyundai-Rotem plant for more railcars.

SEPTA posted a nice little write up about the Silverliner Vs here.  You can also find a few photos at railroad.net, including a shotof 801 next to Silverliner II #256 in the shop.

Finally...the first new Silverliners that SEPTA has ordered in my 23 years of life on this earth have arrived!

Tritransit Recorder has added many photos of the buses operated by Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority to the Photo Gallary on the site.

http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/multimedia/index-26.html

Folks, get your cameras ready. As reported on SEPTA Watch, the ship carrying the three pilot cars is set to arrive in Philadelphia tomorrow. An observation which I've received earlier today. The WLADYSLAW ORKAN, the ship carrying these three cars, is moving up the Delaware river as we speak. As it stands now, everything is on time for a change. Once the ship arrives at the Navel yard, these three cars will be transported to Wayne Electric in Nicetown. At Wayne Electric, these cars will undergo familiarization training by managers and the engineers.

Finally!!
[Photo taken by Transit Freak] 

For over the past 150 years of recorded history in Philadelphia, the winter of 2009-2010 has been the most snowist year in recorded history. As it stands on Feburary the 8th 2010, over 77 inches of snow is the total recorded for Philadelphia.

Here some extremely nice snow shots!

 {Photo 1: Taken by Transit Freak; Photo 2: Taken by Mike Buswizard]

 

For the first time ever on Philadelphia, we are holding a contest for Photo of the month.  Posted on the boards are several selected photos which we felt that stood out though out the area. most.
To look at the photos and to vote:

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7189351/1/#new

Early this morning, 8142 running on the 21 (block 9103) crashed into a building at 15th and Chestnut Streets.  Apparently, the bus was on detour.  While it was turning from 15th Street to Chestnut Street, it couldn't make the turn, hit a car, and ran into the corner of the Del Frisco's restaurant.

Six passengers that were on the bus had minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals.  8142 took a good hit, but it's nothing that Berridge Shops on Wyoming Ave can't fix!

News coverage here: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/from_the_source/Student_high-rise_evacuated_in_Center_City.html

On Saturday night, Brandon S. spotted TMC RTS #51 in service on the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit night service to Upland Square.  According to others, TMCs #53 and #55 are still in service as well, meaning that the Gillig BRTs have NOT retired the TMCs as originally thought.  However, the 18 year old buses won't be around much longer, as Pottstown is purchasing more buses with federal stimulus funds this year.

According to Joe Parlin, the rumor about five Silverliner Vs being lost at sea is false. More likely it was sparked out by a railfan who did not wanted to see the Silverliner IIs (The units which they were replacing to leave SEPTA). As it stands now, everything is on schudule. Hopefully there will be no more delays in this order.  Last week, Rotem in South Korea has shipped three completed (701, 801-802) Silverliners Vs. The ship carring these Silverliners is expected to arrive in early March.

There are some rumors out there that the ship carrying the first production cars of the Silverliners V from Rotem in Korea has capsized with these shells on board. We do not have any more actual information at this time, nor can we verify if any of these rumors are true or not.  More infomation to follow..