Federal transportation officials announced Thursday a $13.3 million grant to help SEPTA replace its half-century-old Regional Rail cars.
The funding will support SEPTA’s plan to phase out its aging Silverliner IV fleet, which was constructed between 1974 and 1976 and ranks among the oldest commuter rail vehicles still in service nationwide.
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U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the award and thanked President Donald Trump.
Duffy stated the federal government is “investing millions of dollars to help SEPTA transition to cleaner, safer, and more efficient train cars that customers will love.”
According to Democratic U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle’s office, the federal dollars are drawn from the Rail Vehicle Replacement Grant Program, which was funded under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden.
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The federal funding is a step toward a complete overhaul of the fleet.
WHYY News reported the total cost to fully replace the fleet is expected to reach $2 billion. Funding has not fully been lined up.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewHopeFreePress.com
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The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that SEPTA officials are reviewing proposals from several manufacturers bidding to build 234 next-generation electric railcars.
Replacing the Silverliner IV fleet, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of all active Regional Rail cars, comes after problems with the fleet last year.
SEPTA previously pulled the vehicles from service for thorough inspections and maintenance upgrades after several fires, including a blaze at the Levittown Train Station. Updates were made, and the cars were placed back in service.
Credit: SEPTA
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“This grant will help SEPTA jump-start the purchase of new Regional Rail cars to replace a current fleet that dates back more than 50 years,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said. “SEPTA has established a robust maintenance program to keep the current fleet operating safely and reliably, and we look forward to delivering these new vehicles for our customers.”
Speaking to local officials at a TMA Bucks event last December, Sauer stated that maintenance crews have relied on creative means to keep the 50-year-old cars running safely.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewHopeFreePress.com
SEPTA officials have acknowledged that maintaining the aging vehicles has grown increasingly difficult and costly.
As a way to maintain its Regional Rail service, SEPTA has leased 10 passenger cars from the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail (MARC) system and is awaiting the delivery of 24 railcars purchased from Exo, Montreal’s public transit operator.
SEPTA data shows Regional Rail daily ridership reached 732,819 passenger trips in June, a 3.5 percent increase over 2025 levels.
The Regional Rail system spans 154 stations across the region, including 16 stops in Bucks County along the Lansdale/Doylestown, Trenton, Warminster, and West Trenton lines.
In addition to the Silverliner IV fleet, SEPTA operates approximately 15-year-old Silverliner V models, which were originally brought in to replace 1960s-era cars. The newer models were previously pulled for structural repairs in 2016 after inspectors discovered frame cracking.
