SEPTA is preparing to add 24 used passenger rail cars from Canada to its Regional Rail fleet, a move the transit agency says will provide more seating and capacity for riders beginning in early 2027.
The agency purchased the 30-year-old rail cars from Montreal’s transit system for $8.5 million, describing the deal as a cost-effective way to expand service while it prepares for a longer-term investment in new trains.
SEPTA recently invited NBC10 to tour the cars at its maintenance facility in Malvern, Chester County, where technicians will spend the coming months preparing them for service in the Philadelphia region.
While the cars may not have the latest technology or amenities, SEPTA officials say they will help address a pressing need for additional passenger capacity.
“Well I wouldn’t say it’s better, I would say it’s more. Today we are limited as to how many cars we can put out each day,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said.
Sauer said the additional cars will give riders more room and help SEPTA accommodate more passengers.
“In the beginning customers will have a little extra capacity a little extra seating little extra room for us to pick up more people,” Sauer said.
Before the Canadian rail cars can enter service, SEPTA technicians will need to make several modifications to meet the agency’s operating needs. Those upgrades include improvements to safety technology, batteries and lighting.
The trains will also need new doors because SEPTA’s station platforms are different heights from those in Montreal.
Inside, riders will notice a different layout from the trains they’re accustomed to using. Some seating faces sideways, handrails are larger and aisles are wider.
Greg Buzby, SEPTA’s chief officer of rail equipment, said the design provides “more flexible space for people who may only be on the train for ten or fifteen minutes in some cases.”
Another noticeable difference is the signage. The Canadian trains still have signs and labels written in French, which will need to be changed before they enter service in the Philadelphia area.
SEPTA expects to introduce the cars into service one by one beginning in early 2027.
The purchase comes as SEPTA faces the challenge of maintaining an aging Regional Rail fleet.
The agency has more than 200 rail cars that are now 50 years old and will soon begin a yearslong process of ordering new trains to replace some of them.
In the meantime, the used Canadian cars will help fill a critical gap.
Eight of the 24 purchased cars are cab cars, meaning they can operate as the lead car of a train. SEPTA currently has only 10 cars with that capability.
Adding eight more cab cars will give the agency greater flexibility in operating its trains across Regional Rail lines.
SEPTA officials say the $8.5 million purchase offers an affordable way to increase capacity and keep more passengers moving safely while the agency works toward modernizing its fleet.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
