SEPTA will further efforts to rebuild a critical portion of Regional Rail infrastructure in the University City area as part of the Southwest Connection Improvement Program (SCIP). Work and related service adjustments will start this weekend, July 9-10.
SCIP will require major service adjustments that will impact customers who use the Airport, Media/Elwyn and Wilmington/Newark Lines. The work is scheduled to take place on select weekends in July and August, as well as one full week in August:
- July 9-10, 16-17 & 23-24
- August 6-7, 13-14 & 20
- August 15 through 19
SCIP will rebuild the mainline infrastructure on the Media/Elwyn Line between 30th Street Station and the Arsenal Interlocking, just below Penn Medicine Station, portions of which date more than 80 years. This track area also supports Wilmington/Newark and Airport Line services, making it a critical rail connection for Southwest Philadelphia, Center City, Delaware County, and the economic vitality of the region.
Upcoming work highlights include:
- Set interlocking houses
- Run new cables and conduit to support houses
- Erect signal masts and support catenary masts
- Clear vegetation
Service changes that will be in effect:
- No train service to or from Penn Medicine Station for the Airport, Media/Elwyn, or Wilmington/Newark Lines
- To access the Penn Medicine Station area, customers can take:
- Media/Elwyn Shuttle: Service to/from 49th St., Penn Medicine Station area, 30th St.
- Penn Medicine Area Circulator Bus: Service to/from 33rd & Spruce St./30th St. & JFK at LUCY stop
- LUCY Bus: Service to/from 30th St. & JFK (weekdays only)
- Shuttle bus stop for Penn Medicine Station area at 33rd & Spruce St.
- To access the Penn Medicine Station area, customers can take:
- Media/Elwyn Line
- Train service will operate between Elwyn and 49th Street Stations following a special construction timetable
- Shuttle buses will substitute for train service between 49th Street Station and 33rd & Spruce St. (Penn Medicine Station area) and 30th Street Station
- Wilmington/Newark Line
- Train service will operate between Newark and 30th Street Stations following a special construction timetable
- No direct service to or from Suburban, Jefferson, or Temple University Stations
- All trains will arrive/depart 30th Street from Amtrak Main Terminal lower-level platform
- Airport Line
- Train service will operate hourly between Airport Terminals, Eastwick, and 30th Street Station
- No direct service to or from Suburban, Jefferson, or Temple University Stations
- All trains will arrive/depart 30th Street from Amtrak Main Terminal lower-level platform
SCIP helps with SEPTA’s overall efforts to improve Regional Rail service for customers and preserve it for future generations. Since 2018, the project has been broken up into phases during the summer months in an effort to minimize the disruption to passengers.
For more details on SCIP, please visit septa.org/southwestconnection.
In addition to the schedule information posted online, SEPTA will continue to post real-time service updates at www.septa.org and on Twitter @SEPTA.
