NTSB: Emergency action needed on SEPTA railcars

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — The National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent warning to SEPTA on Wednesday recommending the transit agency removes 225 railcars from fleet because of a fire risk. The report cited five fires between February and September of 2025.

The NTSB began the investigation into SEPTA’s railcars in February after a fire began in Ridley Park shortly after departing the Crum Lynne station. About 300 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated as the fire destroyed the railcar. Since then, four other railcars of the same design caught on fire, including fires in Levittown, N.J. on June 3, Paoli, Pa. on July 22, Fort Washington, Pa. on September 23 and Philadelphia on September 25.

The report detailed the outdated design of the Silverliner IV railcars, and stated that the build along with SEPTA’s maintenance and operating practices represented unacceptable safety risks because of the incidence and severity of electrical fires that can spread to occupied compartments. 

However, NTSB nor SEPTA could figure out why this particular rail car keeps catching on fire.

“There is no root cause,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer. “It has alluded us all.”

Investigators concluded the Silverliner IV design of the SEPTA railcars was outdated. The cars entered service between 1974 and 1976 and have not been refurbished since. The report stated the design predates the federal fire safety standards established in 1999 and most recently amended in 2002.

The 225 Silverliner IV railcars make up about 60% of SEPTA entire fleet. SEPTA said it would not remove the railcars at the recommendation of the NTSB, but it has a list of 40 mitigation measures in place including live-video reporting and in-person checks on all trains.

SEPTA recently received $394 million in funding from the state as it faced a budget deficit of $213 million. The money is being used to fund SEPTA’s current operations over the next two years.

Sauer added that SEPTA has a plan to replace the railcars, but the process would take about ten years and $2 billion.