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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on problems with Philadelphia-area commuter trains:
7:45 a.m.
Transportation officials in Philadelphia say more commuters are boarding trains earlier due to rail car shortages.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority took 120 regional rail cars out of service because of structural defects. Until the authority can lease equipment from other states, it’s streamlining some routes and urging commuters to find other ways to get into Center City Philadelphia.
Spokeswoman Heather Redfern says riders Wednesday morning are catching trains earlier than they did Tuesday.
Despite that, the authority is reporting a few trains running 10 to 14 minutes late as the morning rush got underway, but no major delays.
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12:30 a.m.
With one-third of its rail fleet out of service, Philadelphia’s main transit agency says Wednesday’s commute could be even more hectic with more people returning to work following the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is looking to lease equipment from other states after sidelining 120 regional rail cars due to structural problems.
SEPTA says cracks were discovered Friday night in beams in the suspension system on its fleet of Hyundai Rotem-made Silverliner V rail coaches. The transit agency has hired consultants to pinpoint the source of the problem.
While some commuters on Tuesday switched to other means of transportation, others dealt with delayed and packed trains.
SEPTA says it will provide refunds and credits for weekly and monthly regional rail pass customers as a result of the problem.