Federal agencies issue urgent SEPTA safety recommendations after train fire investigations
In the recommendations issued Wednesday, the NTSB states that the outdated design of the Silverliner IV railcars, combined with SEPTA's maintenance and operating practices, poses an unacceptable safety risk due to the severity of the electrical fires that can spread.
One of the recommendations is for SEPTA to stop using its Silverliner IV trains, which make up part of the Regional Rail fleet, and either replace them or update them with modern safety systems that meet federal standards for new traincars.
But SEPTA officials said they will not be following that guidance. In a press conference, General Manager Scott Sauer said the transit authority plans to keep the 225 Silverliner IV cars in service — about two-thirds of the Regional Rail fleet — citing measures already in place to address the fires.
"We've been working to develop a comprehensive set of 40 mitigation measures," Sauer said. "Due to these efforts, we are confident we can safely continue service with the Silverliner IV fleet."
Sauer said he is "100% confident" that SEPTA does not use any trains that are unsafe. The NTSB recommendations are not legally binding.
A SEPTA spokesperson said this report will not affect service.
Hours later, the Federal Railroad Administration escalated matters, issuing an emergency order that requires SEPTA to take immediate, sweeping steps to reduce the risk of fire.
"At my direction, FRA is taking swift and immediate action to ensure the safety of all passengers and transit workers on SEPTA. This includes deploying our team of experts to SEPTA's trains, repair shops, dispatch center, to ensure thorough safety precautions are being implemented," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in the announcement.
Now, SEPTA has federal orders to follow. Within seven days, SEPTA must submit a plan to pull each Silverliner IV car for mechanical inspection, develop plans to determine the root causes of the fires, and require engineers to report brake or acceleration problems and other issues within five minutes. A longer list of compliance measures must be completed within 30 days.
SEPTA hasn't commented on the emergency order. If it does not adhere to the order, SEPTA could face more violations and additional federal oversight.
The NTSB says its investigation "found that SEPTA's current operating practices have failed to protect passengers and crews because defective railcars have been kept in passenger service," according to the report. Moreover, the report argues the fires indicate "organizational lapses" on SEPTA's part.
The recommendations stem from NTSB's investigations into five fires involving Silverliner IV railcars that happened this year:
- SEPTA train fire in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 6
- Levittown fire on June 3
- SEPTA train fire in Paoli, Pennsylvania, on July 22
- Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, fire on Sept. 23
- Philadelphia fire on Sept. 25
"The NTSB issues urgent recommendations to address immediate, critical issues that threaten lives or property. The NTSB does not need to wait until the end of investigations to issue recommendations," the report says. "Recipients have 30 days to respond."
SEPTA provided the Federal Railroad Administration with its plan to mitigate fires on the trains in August. But just last week, there was another fire on a Silverliner IV.
The fire last week involved a railcar with a warning light that the NTSB says, according to SEPTA's own memorandum from July and mitigation plan sent to the Federal Railroad Administration, should not have been in service.
SEPTA said the root cause of the fires has eluded all of its staff and inspectors. Cameras are now installed in all trains, and staff can see if a warning light is going off.
Mayor Cherelle Parker released a statement on social media in response to the NTSB report. She said in part, "The National Transportation Safety Board's urgent recommendations today regarding safety risks in SEPTA's Silverliner IV rail car fleet are very disturbing to me — and all too predictable."
"When anyone questioned my concerns and apprehension last month about SEPTA using capital funds for operating costs, this moment is why," Parker continued. "We are anxiously waiting for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to deliver and approve that sustainable, recurring source to fund operating and capital needs for public transit."
The NTSB has a full urgent safety recommendations report on its website.
Riders say they rely on SEPTA
SEPTA riders who spoke to CBS News Philadelphia on Wednesday said they rely on the trains.
Nathan Foley, who rides Regional Rail daily, said he saw the train fire in February in Ridley Park. All 329 passengers and crew evacuated safely. He still uses the train, though.
"Personally, I'd be willing to ride it out and generally take the risk," Foley said.
Chloé Nore said she doesn't have another option.
"It's definitely a necessary commute for me," Nore said. "I don't drive down to school; I have to take the train."
