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    1. Rail
    2. Maintenance

    SEPTA trolley tunnel to close for 2021 Trolley Tunnel Blitz July 9-26

    July 9, 2021
    SEPTA has also expanded the maintenance and cleaning initiative to three new stations during July. 
    Related To: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

    The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) began its 2021 Trolley Tunnel Blitz. 

    SEPTA crews will work around-the-clock for 17 days, tackling critical track and power maintenance, station upgrades, and intensive cleaning as part of the initiative. 

    SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel from 10:00 p.m. on July 9 through 5:00 a.m. on July 26. 

    Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets. Customers can board SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line at 40th Street Station for travel to-and-from Center City. 

    Work that will be completed during the tunnel closure includes: 

    • Demolish and rebuild the full length of the eastbound 22nd Street platform, rebuild entire track bed, and pour new concrete decking. 
    • Replace worn track curved rail at 37th Street eastbound and 15th Street westbound. 
    • Complete column plate repairs. 
    • Replace four miles of overhead contact wire. 
    • Complete maintenance on Ludlow Switch. 
    • Perform work on entire tunnel signal system. 
    • Conduct heavy cleaning and maintenance at all stations including painting, lighting, graffiti removal and drain and pipe cleaning. 

    This is the ninth consecutive year SEPTA has held the Trolley Tunnel Blitz, which is scheduled during the summer when ridership is traditionally lower to impact the fewest number of regular customers. 

    "The Trolley Tunnel is critical to our daily operations, providing thousands of passenger trips underneath heavily congested roadways connecting Center City and University City," said SEPTA General Manager/CEO Leslie S. Richards. "These cleaning and maintenance blitzes allow our crews time to make necessary fixes and prepare us for the year ahead." 

    Initiative expands to three more stations 

    Following several successful station cleaning and maintenance blitzes in recent months, SEPTA will continue the initiative July 9-11 for a cleaning blitz at Huntingdon Station on the Market-Frankford Line. 

    Huntingdon Station will close each night at 8:00 p.m. beginning July 9 and reopen for service the following day at 5:00 a.m. Efforts will focus on maintenance, including work on elevators, as well as painting, power washing and installing enhanced lighting and new signage.  

    Following the Huntingdon Station cleaning will be the Lombard Station (Broad Street Line) on July 23, 24, 25 and 11th Street Station (Market-Frankford Line) July 30, 31 and Aug. 1. 

    During the closures, customers can find alternate service at neighboring stations on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines, or on nearby bus routes. 

    SEPTA has been doing these station blitzes on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines over the last several months. In addition to Huntington Station this weekend, crews have been dispatched to Somerset, Allegheny, 13th Street, 46th Street, Tioga and 8th Street on the Market-Frankford Line. Work has also been performed at the North Philadelphia and Snyder Stations on the Broad Street Line. 

    During the work, trolleys will continue operating along their routes outside of the tunnel in West and Southwest Philadelphia, and travel to-and-from Center City is available on the Market-Frankford Line with free transfers at 40th Street. 

    This year, tents will be available as a temporary shelter for customers transferring from trolleys and the Market Frankford Line. For late night travel, customers can transfer to Market-Frankford Line Night Owl bus service.