SEPTA adds 5 more Maryland rail cars to ease crowding

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia's main transit agency is leasing additional rail cars in a continued effort to ease crowding due to over 100 coaches being out of service.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority added five cars from Maryland on Monday.

SEPTA sidelined 120 Silverliner V cars, a third of the coaches in its regional rail system, on July 1 after defects were found in the suspension systems.

Eighteen cars are already on lease from Amtrak and the Maryland and New Jersey transit agencies. They added 1,700 seats in high ridership areas.

Transit officials expect to use all the leased equipment through August.

The agency plans to rework its train schedules as cars are added.