SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz to Begin Next Week

It's that time of year again: commuters will have to use the Market-Frankford Line for travel to and from Center City.

SEPTA has announced the dates for its 2017 Trolley Tunnel Blitz – the time of year when forces work around the clock to clean, maintain and upgrade the Center City Trolley Tunnel.

The blitz will kick off at 10 p.m. on July 7th and last until July 17th at 5 a.m. During that time, the tunnel will be inaccessible. 

Trolley routes that use the tunnel – 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 – will temporarily divert to 40th and Market streets. There, commuters can transfer to the Market-Frankford Line for service to and from Center City.

SEPTA will set up rain tents as temporary shelters for customers transferring between the Market-Frankford Line and trolley service. For late-night travel, customers can take the Market-Frankford Line Weekday Night Owl bus service (or all-night MFL train service on weekends).

About the Trolley Tunnel Blitz

Roughly 700 vehicles travel through the five-mile Trolley Tunnel every day (accounting for more than 1,300 daily trolley trips), according to SEPTA. The organization’s annual tunnel “blitz” is typically scheduled in the summer, when ridership is traditionally lower.

This year, SEPTA will work on replacing the track’s curved rail and rail clamps at nine locations on the Eastbound and Westbound sides and at Chester and Woodland avenues (to help reduce noise levels). The organization will also test its track switches and emergency generators, help maintain lighting, clean (including graffiti removal), replace wood protection boards on the westbound side of the tunnel and install track and trolley wires.

For more information, visit SEPTA’s website.

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