In the Dark

SEPTA R5 train to Thorndale was stopped near Overbrook yesterday around 5:25 p.m. because of power outage. Passangers were left in dark until the power came back about ten minutes later. 

Not over yet....

Do not get your hopes up. Your bus or train will not be there waiting for you. The Union spokesman told the press that the news that Septa will running was premature.

Gov. Rendell just held press conference on transit strike and stated that the Septa strike will continue

Today I was walking down the street and I heard a little girl arguing with her older brother about how the only way she was going to get excused from classes because of the strike was to get a written note from her parents. She said that almost all of her classmates take a SEPTA bus to school meaning that a lot of young kids are stranded with no way of getting to school.

Day Five: Could This Be The End?

If Septa accepts the union's proposed binding arbitration (on pension and wages) tonight, the strike could end immediately. Otherwise, brace for a continued lack of public transportation in the City of Brotherly Love (sans regional rail).

-Michael Gaudini

Eagles fan's all mixed up

As the Septa strike continues, the Eagles announced their plan for Sundays game. Philly.com mention announced "The Eagles estimate that about 20 percent of their fans use mass transit to get to Lincoln Financial Field, so if last night's tentative SEPTA proposal is not ratified today or transit operations are not resumed in time, parking for tomorrow's 8:20 p.m. game against the Cowboys could be challenging. Fans are encouraged to carpool. If there is no SEPTA resolution, lots will open at 1 p.m. tomorrow."

This could be a potential area for talking to frustrated fans that would be ususally be intoxicated. Now with no public trans available, they have to be responsible DD's, or atleast we can hope.

Regional Rail

I took the R3 out of the city today and experienced the havoc that has been the SEPTA strike. Surprisingly enough, Regional rail workers seem to be handling the situation better than the past few days. No one is permitted up onto the platforms without buying a ticket at the booth first, which cuts down on congestion boarding the trains. Though they were all running late (as to be expected) they were actually carrying pretty light loads of people, and were nothing compared to the stories I heard from people riding the trains in the past few days. They seem to have the increased numbers of passengers under control now.
At the Temple station I also tried talking to some of the Regional Rail workers who were there for security reasons, but I was told SEPTA has decided they are not allowed to speak "on the record" regarding the strike, even though they are not union members.