SEPTA's new rail cars are good for Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 11 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., joined other state legislators and city officials Wednesday for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's unveiling of its new rail car purchase.

SEPTA is purchasing 120 new Silverliner rail cars for $274 million; the first of them are expected to be put into service next fall. While some of the new train cars will replace old ones, by 2010, SEPTA is expected to have an additional 47 cars in service, increasing its total from 348.

A fan of public transportation herself since she does not own a car, Josephs said she was pleased to see SEPTA adding to its fleet, given the public's interest in the environment and reducing energy costs.

"I'm very happy to see the new cars being purchased, and to learn that they will be assembled at a south Philadelphia factory," Josephs said. "This means these cars will not only help ease overcrowding on the trains and allow more people to take public transportation, but also contribute to our economy and reduce the number of cars on the roadways."

The cars are being built by United Transit Systems, a consortium of South Korea's Hyundai Rotem Co. and Japan's Sojitz Corp. of America, and will be final assembled at Rotem's plant in Philadelphia.

According to SEPTA, rail ridership increased by more than 12 percent this year compared to 2007, marking a high of 35 million riders.

"As many people are discovering, public transportation offers many benefits, not the least of which is reducing the number of cars on the road and the environmentally harmful emissions they produce," Josephs said. "But with the dramatic increases in fuel and energy prices, more people also are trying to save costs anywhere they can. These additional train cars will help in our energy independence.

"We're also working at the state level to provide residents with ways to conserve energy and lower costs, including requiring utility companies to install smart meters so consumers can learn when energy costs less. The House passed this energy-independence measure in the spring. The Senate has yet to consider it. I urge everyone to contact his or her senator to urge him or her to act on this important legislation," Josephs said.

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Suggested caption: Rep. Babette Josephs checks out the new Silverliner train car that SEPTA is planning to bring online by next fall to ease congestion and update its older cars.