SEPTA, PATCO services restored after fire prompts power outage

SEPTA services restored after fire, power outage

SEPTA restored service at 15th Street/City Hall station about four hours after a fire shut down SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line between 2nd and 30th Street during the evening rush.

PHILADELPHIA - A fire broke out underground at SEPTA’s 15th Street/City Hall station around 3:00 p.m. Monday, shutting down the Market-Frankford Line between 2nd and 30th Street and disrupting the evening commute for tens of thousands of people.

Chaos at a major SEPTA hub during rush hour

What we know:

The fire started underground in the track area by a transformer at 15th Street/City Hall station, according to SEPTA officials. 

MaryAnn Tierney, chief officer at the SEPTA Control Center, said, "We had to de-energize a portion of our system to respond safely and to mitigate the fire." She added, "Anything that happens during the evening commute becomes significant because it cascades right when everybody wants to get home."

Police responded to the scene to manage crowds and break up fights as hundreds of commuters crowded around the station, unable to follow their usual routes. 

Officers also took away a couple of teenagers in handcuffs.

Commuters described the situation as chaotic, with Dominic Brown of North Philly saying, "It’s a big fire. It was a big fire going down. You can still smell it." Brown added, "People are walking blocks and blocks and blocks. Everybody is chaotic. There are fights going out. There’s a lot of stuff breaking off but we’re trying to keep it cool as possible and it’s hot."

SEPTA arranged shuttle buses to take commuters to 30th Street Station to connect with portions of the Market-Frankford Line that were still running and to the Broad Street Line. 

However, some shuttle buses broke down in traffic, further complicating the commute.

Many commuters expressed frustration, including Shamika Green of Germantown, who said, "They told us to get off the train. We had to get off the train, then they told us we had to get on the bus. We got on the bus. The shuttle bus broke down in the middle of traffic so we had to get off on 30th St. get off and get on another bus and that bus couldn’t get through because the shuttle bus was broken down."

A group of commuters at the scene were outraged to learn 15th Street/City Hall station was closed. 

"So this is closed, what are you serious? This is closed right here?  So how are we supposed to get home?"

The Broad Street Line was also not making stops at 15th and City Hall during the shutdown.

Restoration of service and commuter reactions

Why you should care:

 Tens of thousands of people rely on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line and Broad Street Line to get home and to other destinations every evening. 

The shutdown caused widespread confusion, delays and forced many to walk long distances or wait for shuttle buses that themselves experienced breakdowns.

K McCall-Spencer of Cobb Creek said, "It’s just a lot of tension. People are hot trying to get home, trying to get to their babies, trying to do what they need to do and SEPTA was not cooperative."

SEPTA was able to restore service to the Market-Frankford Line and reopen 15th Street/City Hall station after about four hours around 7 p.m., bringing relief to many who worried the disruption could affect the morning commute.

PATCO also restored its services that were impacted by the fire and subsequent power outage.

What we don't know:

It is not yet clear what caused the transformer fire or if there will be any long-term impacts on SEPTA service. Details about the extent of the damage and any potential changes to future emergency response plans have not been released.