A Philly Transport Icon: 50 Years of the Silverliner IVs and What's Next? | How We Get Around Philly
It's been a familiar face for the people of the Philadelphia area, and it's likely older than you and maybe even your parents. The Silverliner IV electric trains have been the face of SEPTA's regional rail operations for the last 50 years, and it's only NOW that SEPTA has gotten serious to find a replacement for them. It's amazing to consider how something has lasted 50 years in regular use, serving every single day of that time, and it's time to ask a few questions. Why have the Silverliner IVs lasted so long? Why are they so beloved among SEPTA staff? And what can or even should replace them going forward? I had a chat with a SEPTA conductor to find out, and what I learned was quite fascinating and shines a light on these trains and the transit agency that runs them.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
3:23 The History of the Silverliners
9:25 What About the Silverliner Vs?
14:11 A Chat with a SEPTA Conductor
50:42 SEPTA Begins the Process At Last
58:34 The Silverliner VI Already Exists?
1:07:31 Passing On The Torch
1:11:11 Conclusion