SEPTA sucks (Philadelphia, Reading, York: university, storage, authority)

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by jazzy jeff

The website seems to be down a lot. Have not checked lately but last week when I called they told me it could be down for up to two weeks. Can re-load over the phone on their automated line.

yeah I haven't tried, but hopefully some upgrades go into it.

[Lenses & Lights.]

Does it look like the city proper will ever get another line?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Lenses & Lights.

Does it look like the city proper will ever get another line?

No.

Well, the NHSL spur from Norristown to KoP is the most likely to happen.. But, anything else? No. Course it's not in the city proper.

[1ondoner]

Wow! My son tried to register his SEPTA key online and he couldn't. We'll try again this week

Originally Posted by jazzy jeff

The website seems to be down a lot. Have not checked lately but last week when I called they told me it could be down for up to two weeks. Can re-load over the phone on their automated line.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by kyb01

No.

Well, the NHSL spur from Norristown to KoP is the most likely to happen.. But, anything else? No. Course it's not in the city proper.

I wouldn't be so definite.

Yes, the BSL Navy Yard extension is a long shot, but there are people with some clout behind it.

The shame is that we probably will never see the Northeast subway, which really is needed.

[moneymkt]

Originally Posted by PHL10

Once they start accepting Key on the Regional Rail, that should solve the problem. meaning, they will have kiosks at all the stations.

Does Regional Rail only accept the key card on the weekends?

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by moneymkt

Does Regional Rail only accept the key card on the weekends?

Key card holders with passes loaded on their cards can ride Regional Rail for free on weekends (a longstanding SEPTA policy for TransPass holders).

Ultimately, when those turnstiles go live, everyone riding Regional Rail will need a Key card. I assume that single-fare riders without Key cards will be able to purchase Quick Trip tickets to their destinations.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Double post, please delete

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I assume that single-fare riders without Key cards will be able to purchase Quick Trip tickets to their destinations.

I have not noticed ticket vending machines being put into most outlying RR stations, even though the card readers seem to be installed. At this point I'd have to assume they don't have an intention of putting vending machines at all their station.



The pilot program seems to keep on utilizing these SEPTA ambassadors that guard the fare lines (making a lot of what the conductor does obsolete). Meaning if you have a paper ticket, you show it to the ambassador who then allows you to enter the turnstile (thank goodness they FINALLY moved these ambassadors to the waiting area entrance, so that you are now able to change tracks if you need to! The old policy held you hostage to your initial choice, meaning no changing your mind on your train if one became unreasonably late. One time I got onto the track to take the Chestnut Hill West, which became later and later - and all I could do was watch the Chestnut Hill East go by on the other side because I had already made my decision).


I'm really fascinated by how this key card on the regional rail thing is going to play out - there's a lot that doesn't make a ton of sense to me. The logistics of passenger flow is the big thing. Aside from masses of people all having to swipe their card to exit the station at the same time, the turnstiles are very small! I'm way slimmer than the average RR passenger, and it's a tight squeeze if I have a bag. I'm guessing a whole lot of people are going to greatly prefer the ADA accessible turnstile. Today is the beginning of turnstile enforcement at 30th Street Station, so I guess that will answer some questions. Ease for the occasional rider doesn't seem great either, but I guess it never was, so there's nothing lost.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

I have not noticed ticket vending machines being put into most outlying RR stations, even though the card readers seem to be installed. At this point I'd have to assume they don't have an intention of putting vending machines at all their station.



The pilot program seems to keep on utilizing these SEPTA ambassadors that guard the fare lines (making a lot of what the conductor does obsolete). Meaning if you have a paper ticket, you show it to the ambassador who then allows you to enter the turnstile (thank goodness they FINALLY moved these ambassadors to the waiting area entrance, so that you are now able to change tracks if you need to! The old policy held you hostage to your initial choice, meaning no changing your mind on your train if one became unreasonably late. One time I got onto the track to take the Chestnut Hill West, which became later and later - and all I could do was watch the Chestnut Hill East go by on the other side because I had already made my decision).


I'm really fascinated by how this key card on the regional rail thing is going to play out - there's a lot that doesn't make a ton of sense to me. The logistics of passenger flow is the big thing. Aside from masses of people all having to swipe their card to exit the station at the same time, the turnstiles are very small! I'm way slimmer than the average RR passenger, and it's a tight squeeze if I have a bag. I'm guessing a whole lot of people are going to greatly prefer the ADA accessible turnstile. Today is the beginning of turnstile enforcement at 30th Street Station, so I guess that will answer some questions. Ease for the occasional rider doesn't seem great either, but I guess it never was, so there's nothing lost.

These are all the things I've been thinking of. Sedgwick is a good example of a station with no vending machine, no turnstile, but a reader is sitting there. What do they expect me to do with that? And why? The entire line is capped at zone 2. So, if I scan with a Zone 2, do I really need to buzz out? Will they implement turnstiles? And will the conductors still check fare on the train, and if so, why? So many strange concepts.

Agreed 100% on the turnstiles. Why did they implement them so tightly? Couldn't they have just made the fencing shorter and spread the turnstiles out another 6 inches? I'm also pretty thin, so no problem for me, but there are many that are not so thin to your point.

And, thank god they're turning the turnstiles on. How much longer do we need to go on showing our cards/tickets to people outside the turnstiles? Just turn them on already. Btw, how will paper tickets be handled now that the turnstiles are turned on? I thought they would have forced everyone onto a Key before turning them on. Would have made sense to me, just give the conductors readers and we could have had everyone off of paper tickets and swipe cards by now...