FRA orders SEPTA to address rail-car fire hazards

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued an emergency order requiring the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to take immediate action following recent fires on Silverliner IV rail cars, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced this week.

The FRA ordered SEPTA to take several safety-related steps to prevent the future risk of fires and other malfunctions on SEPTA’s system. The emergency order cites five instances this year in which rail cars on the commuter-rail service caught fire or experienced an emergency situation related from a thermal event, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) press release.

The emergency order directs SEPTA to act within seven days to reduce the risk of additional fires; the actions include suspending Silverliner IV fleet until each car undergoes inspection.

"At my direction, FRA is taking swift and immediate action to ensure the safety of all passengers and transit workers on SEPTA. This includes deploying our team of experts to SEPTA’s trains, repair shops, dispatch center, to ensure thorough safety precautions are being implemented," Duffy said.

Duffy announced the FRA action on the same day the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that SEPTA suspend the Silverliner IV fleet following its investigation of a Feb. 6 fire on one of the rail cars.