SEPTA Late-Night Service Is Here to Stay
Photo | Ben Schumin.
SEPTA says its weekend late-night rail service has been extended “indefinitely” — even though the $47,000 weekly cost tripled that of the previous “Nite Owl” bus service that was offered weekend overnights.
“Late night customers have proven, by riding in record numbers each weekend that this is a service they want,” said Joseph Casey, SEPTA’s general manager. “That’s why even with the increased costs we have decided to continue overnight service.”
But the staggering cost to SEPTA did not outweigh the demands of passengers. On average, 15,000 riders boarded the overnight trains each weekend since the pilot’s launch on June 15, according to the transit agency. The Nite Owl buses, however, averaged about 9,000 passengers, SEPTA officials said.
The late-night service is available on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines.
