History of SEPTA in Timeline
SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, provides public transportation services to nearly four million people in the Philadelphia region. Its operations include bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services across five counties. Beyond transportation, SEPTA is responsible for maintaining, replacing, and expanding its infrastructure, facilities, and vehicle fleet. It is a vital part of the region's infrastructure.
1980: Prototype K-car delivered and tested
In 1980, a prototype K-car was delivered and tested. Beginning in 1981, the 112 vehicles used on the SEPTA Subway–Surface trolley lines were built by Kawasaki after a prototype was delivered and tested in 1980. Known as "K-cars", they use the 5 ft 2+1⁄4 in (1,581 mm) Pennsylvania trolley gauge.
1981: Kawasaki K-cars built for SEPTA Subway-Surface trolley lines
Beginning in 1981, the 112 vehicles used on the SEPTA Subway–Surface trolley lines were built by Kawasaki after a prototype was delivered and tested in 1980. Known as "K-cars", they use the 5 ft 2+1⁄4 in (1,581 mm) Pennsylvania trolley gauge.
1981: Transit Police Department Established
In 1981, SEPTA established its current Transit Police Department.
1982: Kawasaki B-IV cars built for Broad Street Line
Between 1982 and 1984, the Broad Street Line used cars built by Kawasaki. These cars, known as B-IV, are the fourth generation used on the line.
1982: Largest Bus Order from Neoplan USA
In 1982, SEPTA ordered buses from Neoplan USA, marking the largest purchase for Neoplan at the time and SEPTA's largest to date.
1983: Order of 1,000 Neoplan Buses
In 1983, SEPTA, along with other transit operators in Pennsylvania, ordered 1,000 Neoplan buses of various lengths, with SEPTA ultimately receiving 450 buses from this order.
1984: Kawasaki B-IV cars built for Broad Street Line
Between 1982 and 1984, the Broad Street Line used cars built by Kawasaki. These cars, known as B-IV, are the fourth generation used on the line.
1984: Purchase of Volvo Articulated Buses
In 1984, SEPTA used Volvo 10BM 60-foot articulated buses
1984: Center City Commuter Connection Tunnel Opening
In 1984, the Center City Commuter Connection Tunnel opened, leading to the pairing of former Pennsylvania Railroad lines with former Reading lines. This resulted in the creation of seven route pairings, designated R1 through R8 (with R4 unused).
1986: Purchase of Additional Neoplans
SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans in 1986, some without rear wheelchair lifts.
1987: Purchase of Additional Neoplans with wheelchair lifts
In late 1987, SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans with wheelchair lifts.
1989: Purchase of Additional Neoplans with Wheelchair Lifts
SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans in 1989 including wheelchair lifts.
1993: N-5 cars delivered for Norristown High Speed Line
In 1993, the Norristown High Speed Line received 26 cars known as N-5s, delivered by ABB after production difficulties. These cars are powered by a 600 volt third rail.
1994: Evaluation of Sample Buses
Between 1994 and 1996, SEPTA evaluated sample buses from New Flyer and NovaBus.
1996: North American Bus Industries Reorganization
In 1996, American Ikarus reorganized to become North American Bus Industries.
1997: Adtranz M-4 cars built for Market-Frankford Line
From 1997 to 1999, the Market–Frankford Line used a class of cars known as M-4 and were built by Adtranz. These cars are the line's fourth generation of cars.
1997: Replacement of Neoplan Buses
In 1997, the earlier fleet of AK and BD Neoplan buses (8285–8581) was replaced by 400 buses built by American Ikarus and North American Bus Industries.
1998: Order of Articulated Buses from Neoplan
In 1998, SEPTA ordered 155 articulated buses from Neoplan to replace the 1984 Volvo articulated buses.
1998: Purchase of Transmark-29 Buses
In 1998, SEPTA purchased 89 29-foot Transmark-29 buses from National-Eldorado (4501–4580, 4581 received later).
1999: Adtranz M-4 cars built for Market-Frankford Line
From 1997 to 1999, the Market–Frankford Line used a class of cars known as M-4 and were built by Adtranz. These cars are the line's fourth generation of cars.
1999: Metrotrans Legacy Filed for Bankruptcy
In 1999, Metrotrans Legacy, SEPTA's first choice in small buses, filed for bankruptcy.
2000: Arrival of Transmark-29 Buses
In late 2000, the first of the Transmark-29 buses began to arrive.
2001: Order of Low-Floor Buses from New Flyer
In 2001, SEPTA ordered 100 low-floor buses (nos. 5401–5500) from New Flyer.
2001: Delivery of Diesel Buses
SEPTA had diesel buses delivered between 2001.
2003: Retirement of Cutaway Buses
Around 2003, the original 'cutaway' buses built on Ford van chassis were retired and replaced with slightly larger cutaway buses on a Freightliner truck chassis.
2003: Purchase of Hybrid Buses
In 2003, SEPTA purchased a small group of hybrid buses, 5601H–5612H.
2003: PCC cars rebuilt as PCC II for Girard Avenue Line reopening
In 2003, the PCC cars on SEPTA Route 15 (Girard Avenue Line) were rebuilt by Brookville (and renamed PCC II) for the line's reopening to include air conditioning and a wheelchair lift.
2003: Suspension of Trackless Trolley Service
Trackless trolley service was suspended in 2003, and the 110 AM General vehicles that had provided service on SEPTA's five trackless trolley routes never returned to service.
2004: Purchase of Hybrid Buses
In 2004, SEPTA purchased a small group of hybrid buses, 5831H–5850H.
2004: Delivery of Diesel Buses
SEPTA had diesel buses delivered between 2004.
2005: New Flyer D40LF buses delivered
In 2005, New Flyer D40LF buses were delivered to SEPTA.
2006: Order of New Low-Floor Trackless Trolleys
In early 2006, SEPTA ordered 38 new low-floor trackless trolleys from New Flyer.
2007: SEPTA bus Route 306 began service
In 2007, SEPTA bus Route 306 began service, connecting the Great Valley Corporate Center and West Chester with the Brandywine Town Center.
June 20, 2008: Retirement of AN440 Buses
On June 20, 2008, SEPTA retired the last AN440 buses after receiving its first low-floor fleet.
2008: New Flyer DE40LF buses delivered
Between 2008 and 2009, New Flyer DE40LF buses were delivered to SEPTA.
2008: Restoration of Trackless Trolley Service
In 2008, trackless trolley service was restored on routes 59, 66, and 75 with the introduction of the new New Flyer low-floor trackless trolleys, replacing SEPTA Neoplan EZs.
2008: First Buses with Rooftop HVAC
Prior to the 2008 purchase, SEPTA borrowed an MTA New York City Transit Orion VII hybrid bus # 6365 to evaluate it in service. SEPTA was the first to purchase New Flyer DE40LFs equipped with rooftop HVAC units. SEPTA delivered 525 2017–2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
2008: Order for New Flyer Hybrid Buses
SEPTA placed an order with delivery starting in 2008 for 400 New Flyer hybrid buses, with options for up to 80 additional buses to replace the NABI Ikarus buses.
February 2009: SEPTA bus Route 113 commenced connecting bus service with DART
In February 2009, SEPTA bus Route 113 commenced connecting bus service with DART at the Tri-State Mall, allowing service between Delaware County and Delaware, and connecting with DART First State's #13 and #61 bus at the Tri-State Mall.
2009: New Flyer DE40LF buses delivered
Between 2008 and 2009, New Flyer DE40LF buses were delivered to SEPTA.
2009: Criticism over sex identification markers on transit passes
Between 2009 and 2013, SEPTA was criticized for its use of sex identification markers on the SEPTA-issued monthly transit passes.
2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds utilized
In 2009, $191 million of funds made available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were utilized to make over 30 major improvements to the system.
2009: SEPTA sued over lack of accessibility
SEPTA was sued successfully over its lack of accessibility back in 2009.
2009: Buses Equipped with Rooftop HVAC
SEPTA's revenue from advertisements on the backs of its buses leads the authority to order mainly buses equipped with a rooftop HVAC, and with their rear route-number sign mounted on the roof, especially on 2008–2009 New Flyer DE40LFs and future orders.
July 2010: R-Numbers Removed from Lines
In July 2010, SEPTA removed the R-numbers from the lines and instead began referring to the lines by the names of their termini, due to changing ridership patterns.
2010: First LEED station built at Fox Chase terminal
In 2010, SEPTA built the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) station at Fox Chase terminal.
2010: Service between West Chester and Brandywine Town Center discontinued
In 2010, SEPTA discontinued the bus Route 306 service between West Chester and Brandywine Town Center due to low ridership.
July 2012: SEPTA voted best large transit agency
In July 2012, SEPTA was voted the best large transit agency in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
June 2013: Sex identification markers stopped on monthly passes
In June 2013, SEPTA stopped the use of sex identification markers on the SEPTA-issued monthly transit passes.
2013: Act 89 Signed into Law
In 2013, Act 89 was signed into law, which impacted SEPTA's funding from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
2013: Purchase of NovaBus LFS-A HEV
In 2013, SEPTA purchased NovaBus LFS-A HEV articulated buses.
2015: Retirement of Neoplan Articulated Buses
The Neoplan Articulated buses were retired in late 2015.
2016: SEPTA launches electric bus pilot program
In 2016, SEPTA launched a pilot program to replace diesel buses with battery electric buses on routes 29 and 79, utilizing a $2.6 million Federal Transit Administration grant. 25 buses were ordered from Proterra, Inc., along with two overhead fast-charging stations.
2016: Purchase of NovaBus LFS-A HEV
In 2016, SEPTA purchased NovaBus LFS-A HEV articulated buses.
2017: Emergency welding on M-4 cars
In 2017, 90 cars on the Market-Frankford Line had emergency welding to fix cracking steel beams.
2017: Electric buses expected to enter service
In 2017, the 25 battery electric buses ordered from Proterra, Inc. were expected to enter service on routes 29 and 79, returning electric propulsion to these routes after nearly 15 years of diesel operation.
2017: Delivery of NFI XDE40 Hybrid Buses
SEPTA delivered 525 2017–2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
April 30, 2018: Token Sales Discontinued
On April 30, 2018, token sales were discontinued, and token vending machines were removed from transit stations.
October 2020: SEPTA trials lean benches
In October 2020, SEPTA trialled the use of lean benches instead of traditional seating at some of its stations.
2020: Permanent welding on M-4 cars
In 2020, all the M-4 cars on the Market-Frankford Line, including the ones temporarily repaired in 2017, had to have more permanent welding to fix cracking steel beams.
2020: Paper Ticket Sales Discontinued
In 2020, sales of paper tickets were discontinued on Regional Rail.
2020: Electric buses sidelined due to chassis defect
In February 2020, the battery electric buses were sidelined due to a defect in the buses' plastic chassis that led to a cracking problem.
2020: PCC cars being rebuilt by SEPTA
Since 2020, the PCC cars used on SEPTA Route 15 (Girard Avenue Line) are once again being rebuilt by SEPTA.
April 1, 2021: Paper Tickets Still Accepted on Trains
Until April 1, 2021, valid paper tickets were still accepted on trains.
April 2, 2021: Paper Tickets No Longer Accepted on Regional Rail
As of April 2, 2021, previously purchased paper tickets were no longer accepted on Regional Rail.
September 2021: New York City Subway ADA Compliance Status
As of September 2021, the New York City Subway has the lowest ADA compliance in the nation, at 28%.
September 2021: Lean bench trials concluded
In September 2021, SEPTA's lean bench trials concluded with the removal of the lean benches.
2021: SEPTA orders New Flyer XDE40 buses
In 2021, SEPTA placed an order for 220 New Flyer XDE40 buses with an option for 120 additional buses. These buses replaced the New Flyer D40LF buses and are currently replacing the New Flyer DE40LF buses.
February 2022: ADA Compliance Status
As of February 2022, about 46% of SEPTA's subway and commuter rail stations combined are ADA-compliant.
June 2022: Loss of Funding from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
As of June 2022, SEPTA no longer receives $180,000,000 annually from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission due to Act 89.
July 2022: Charles Lawson Appointed Acting Chief of Transit Police
In July 2022, Charles Lawson was appointed acting chief of the Transit Police.
August 2022: Electronic Tickets Introduced via SEPTA Mobile Apps
In August 2022, SEPTA introduced electronic tickets via SEPTA mobile apps for Android and iOS, allowing payment for transit rides using a QR code.
December 2022: Electronic Tickets Released to the General Public
In December 2022, after a limited pilot program, the electronic ticket feature on the SEPTA mobile apps was released to the general public.
2022: Delivery of NFI XDE40 Hybrid Buses
SEPTA delivered 525 2017–2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
May 2023: Charles Lawson Appointed Chief of the Transit Police
In May 2023, Charles Lawson was appointed chief of the Transit Police.
July 2023: Pilot Program for Contactless Payments
In July 2023, SEPTA launched a limited pilot program to allow passengers to pay for transit trips using contactless credit cards and digital wallets on NFC-enabled phones and smart watches.
September 29, 2023: Contactless Payments Available to the General Public
On September 29, 2023, contactless payments became generally available for transit rides on SEPTA.
2023: Transfer point at the Tri-State Mall was moved to the Claymont Transportation Center
In 2023, the transfer point at the Tri-State Mall was moved to the Claymont Transportation Center.
2023: Funding Decreased Under Act 89
In the 2023 fiscal year, SEPTA's funding from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission decreased to $50,000,000 due to Act 89.
2023: PCC cars scheduled to return with plastic seating
When the PCC cars are scheduled to return in 2023 to SEPTA Route 15 (Girard Avenue Line), they will feature plastic seating.
January 1, 2024: Tokens No Longer Accepted
Effective January 1, 2024, SEPTA no longer accepts tokens at vehicle fareboxes or fare kiosks.
July 1, 2024: CCT Connect name changed to SEPTA Access
On July 1, 2024, the ADA Paratransit Service changed its name from CCT Connect to SEPTA Access, although vehicles will retain the former branding until further notice.
December 1, 2024: Electronic Payment Methods Raised to $2.50
On December 1, 2024, electronic payment methods offered rides for $2.50, matching the cash base rate.
December 2024: Pilot Program for Contactless Payments on Regional Rail
In December 2024, SEPTA began a limited pilot program to test contactless payments on Regional Rail.
April 4, 2025: Contactless Payments Generally Available on Regional Rail
On April 4, 2025, contactless payments became generally available on Regional Rail (excluding Trenton and West Trenton stations), making SEPTA the first agency in the US to offer contactless payments on commuter rail.
June 26, 2025: SEPTA Board Votes to Cut Service and Raise Fares
On June 26, 2025, the SEPTA board voted to cut service and raise fares due to budget deficiencies. The changes include a fare increase to $2.90 for bus, metro, and ParaTransit rides starting Sept. 1, elimination of 50 bus routes, cutting five Regional Rail lines, reducing all remaining service by 20%, adding a 9 p.m. curfew on metro and Regional Rail service, cancel special service (such as sports express trains), close 66 stations, and raise fares by 21.5%.
June 30, 2025: SEPTA Plans to Distribute Zero Fare Key Cards
During the second year of the Zero Fare pilot program, SEPTA plans to distribute a further 20,000 cards by June 30, 2025.
2027: New Alstom low floor streetcars scheduled to enter service
Currently, SEPTA is ordering new 130 low floor streetcars that will be built and delivered by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service between 2027-2030.
2030: New Alstom low floor streetcars scheduled to enter service
Currently, SEPTA is ordering new 130 low floor streetcars that will be built and delivered by Alstom and are scheduled to enter service between 2027-2030.
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