SEPTA, Metro take steps to operate safely in eat wave

Written by jrood

With temperatures expected to reach the upper-90s or higher through this week, Philadelphia's SEPTA is taking a number of steps to prevent heat-related disruptions to customers. SEPTA officials are monitoring the system for potential infrastructure-related issues that can be caused by excessive heat, such as sagging overhead power lines and track buckling. To help prevent these problems, SEPTA is slightly reducing the maximum speeds for some trains. This adjustment also reduces the amount of electricity needed to run the trains, which helps cut down SEPTA's overall draw on the region's power system. In addition to this effort, SEPTA is taking all possible measures to minimize energy consumption at its maintenance facilities, offices and stations.

SEPTA has also stationed
personnel and equipment throughout its service area to allow for quick
responses to any heat-related problems that may arise.

The excessive heat,
forecast to reach record-setting temperatures in the region, is also impacting
Metrorail service in the Washington, D.C., area. A kink in the rail on the Red
Line resulted in speed restrictions through one stretch of track between the
New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail
stations.



Excessive heat sometimes
forces Metro to take a precautionary safety measure to reduce speeds on the aboveground
portions of the rail system. High temperatures can sometimes cause "heat kinks"
on the rails. Heat kinks form when overheated tracks expand and cannot be
constrained by the crossties and ballast support the track.

Metro track inspectors are
closely monitoring rail conditions throughout the heat wave. If heat kinks are
discovered, Metro will need to slow train speeds through the area to ensure
safety. 

Officials will continue to monitor conditions should the heat impact
other areas of track. 



The record-breaking heat
also may make rail stations and trains uncomfortable for passengers. Rail cars
may feel overly warm due to more passengers on trains and the regular opening
of doors at each station stop. When the doors open to let passengers in and out
of the rail cars, cool air goes out the door and warm air enters the car.



Underground rail stations
also may seem warmer than usual during the heat wave. Warm air flows in through
the open-air, street-level station entrances. In addition, trains entering
underground stations from above ground stations pull in hot air from the outside
as well. There is a misperception that Metrorail stations are air-conditioned.
Underground stations have chilled water air handling units, or chillers, not
air conditioners, to cool the air. The Metrorail cooling system was developed
in the 1970s to reflect energy-conservation standards of the time. Temperatures
in stations were designed to be up to 20 degrees cooler than outside
temperatures.

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