SEPTA Rolls Out New Bus, Metro Schedules

SEPTA has released new bus and Metro schedule on Sunday, Feb. 22, and Monday, Feb. 23. The new schedules are part of a broader Metro modernization to simplify navigation and unify the network under new maps, signage, and naming conventions.

SEPTA officials said the new signaling and automation will reduce operator error and derailment risk while maintaining human oversight with alerts and backup systems.

“Nearly all bus lines are now indicated by numbers, and all Metro lines are identified by letters,” SEPTA said in a statement shared with NBC10 Philadelphia. “As part of this schedule change, SEPTA is removing the side-by-side references to old bus letters (except for Route K) and using the new numbers only.”  

Additionally, SEPTA officials noted, the T and G trolleys will now be referenced only by their Metro names or by departure and destination routes. For example, on vehicles, the T1 will say “13th Street to 63rd-Malvern/Overbrook” and not Route 10.

SEPTA also announced that on Monday, Feb. 23, the D1 and D2 trolleys will operate with a new “communications-based train control system” (CBTC) that aims to “provide a higher level of safety utilizing radio communications between the vehicles and the signal system.” 

The CBTC upgrade enforces gradual accelerations and decelerations, stricter speed limits, and automatic braking when needed to enhance safety.

Under the new system, SEPTA will continue to have the same number of trolleys — approximately five per hour in both directions. Arrival and departure times, however, are being adjusted to account for longer travel times.

SEPTA noted the signaling system change is part of a two-decade project to upgrade rail signal systems. The work includes installing Positive Train Control systems on SEPTA's Regional Rail lines.

More information about the new schedules and safety upgrades is available on SEPTA's website.