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SEPTA Debuts R-Less Rail Map; Shit Don’t Look Right


Click to enlarge.

Via PlanPhilly comes the new SEPTA map which reflects, as we told you a little while ago, the new “R”-less regional rail routes. And while we’re trying very hard not to oppose change simply because it is change, it’s hard not regard this as a confusing abomination. We’ll get over it eventually. Sigh.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 12:10 pm.

  • boggle

    The hardest part is not knowing where things begin and end. Meaning, if I’m coming from one place that is not center city and going to another place that is not in center city, yet is on the same line, it’s not entirely clear if I have to switch trains or what.

    Even worse, people are still going to call things by their old names for some time, so if you’re not familiar with the R5 and someone tells you to take the R5, you’re going to have to converse with the nice SEPTA ticket person.

  • zachsan

    the ticket-people on the R trains have never been hard to talk to in my experience. they help out riders with directions all the time.

  • arcticsplasher

    Would’ve been nice if they had at least kept the color designations on the lines – much easier to run to the correct platform that way. “AT&T Sports & Entertainment Complex” looks oh-so classy.

    Now SEPTA gets to redesign, reprint, and rehang every single map, poster, and timetable whenever the end station changes. Or whenever they sell another station name for a few dollars. Or whenever some sponsoring company goes bellyup or gets bought or decides its not worth renewing the naming rights contract. Go, SePtA.

  • http://ripitup.org jim

    yea. i dont think im ok with this.

  • the_ill

    imbecilic

  • arcticsplasher

    Just had a thought – was redesignating the R lines to a station name the first step in selling off those names to advertisers and thereby rebranding an entire line?

  • Matt B

    Boggle — I think the point is that no two stations on opposite sides of the N. Broad->30th St. axis should be considered to be on the “same line” anymore.

    I want to know how trains will be identified. Will a train terminating at Malvern be a “Malvern train” even though Malvern doesn’t have a big circle on the map indicating that it’s a terminus?

  • ggliwa

    This is no more foolish than when septa decided that they didn’t want to run the 15 trolley anymore circa ’95. Spent a ton taking out all of the islands on Girard Ave only to decide 12 years later that trolleys are awesome and that they should spend a fortune re building all of the islands on girard ave.

  • Black (jack) Taco the Eviscerator!

    Guys, Philebs said we were all guys, right? You are aware that most regional rail systems don’t use a numbering system, but instead designate routes by branch endpoint (see: Caltran, the MBTA, fucking JERSEY TRANSIT which a lot of you probably actually use, etc.). Biggest lame-ass molehill to mountain conversion ever. Yesterday was Paglia, today Philebs goes all Andy Rooney on us. And most of y’all chime in. Who knew cubicle culture and barrista employment would lead to early onset late middle-age. Someone get on Urban Outfitters to break out a line of golf clothes for these dudes, stat!

  • Dr. Ward

    I have no idea why exactly SEPTA decided to this because they have done a horrible job of explaining it. How is this a good idea if it is going to (no doubt) cost a shit-ton of money… money that SEPTA seems to be eternally short of?

  • barryg

    Matt B is right. The idea is that there is no longer through routing in CC. Your train starts in CC and ends at Thorndale (or vice versa). For the past several years, the idea of through routing was an illusion anyway, because your R5 coming in to CC could very well turn into an R3 once it hit 30th St.

    The trains themselves still continue through the CC tunnel and onto a different line. If that is where you’re going, you can stay on, and you’ll save money, I think, if you’ve bought a “via CC” ticket (also valid if you switch trains in CC). As I understand it, the ultimate destinations of each train will be indicated somehow on the new maps in small print. At the very least, the individual train numbers are consistent as they pass through CC, so you can cross reference schedules that way.

    It’s really not a big deal. It is actually better this way since SEPTA hasn’t really been doing through routing for a while anyway. People only think the old way was good because some Prof at Penn said so and because that kind of system is common in Europe.

    As for having to replace signs and maps, SEPTA is/should be doing this anyway, it’s not that expensive.

  • unibrow

    I’m more bummed about not being able to use my transpass to get from CC to Chestnut Hill anymore. You used to be able to use your transpass to get to any Zone 1 locations, but now you need a whole new pass. So starting next week, I’ve got to buy two passes… an extra $23 something to get to work every week. Doh!

    Also, I agree that the regional rail employees are very cool and helpful. A totally different breed of people than other Septa employees.

  • Patricio

    Does Ruben Amaro run SEPTA?

  • http://whatonearthishappening.com Dwarn

    This “change” is a disastrous mistake. It is superficial, unwanted, and unnecessary. They have gotten rid of the COLORS which our brains USE to help guide us to the right train platforms! The new schedules look TERRIBLE, like a photocopy of a photocopy! They are all devoid of color, and every train line’s schedule looks THE SAME. The official reason was to “avoid confusion.” This is laughable and ridiculous on its face. It will not solve any present commuting problems. It will not encourage ridership. And it is largely an unsuccessful effort already – the “R” designations REMAIN on HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of wall placards on the trains themselves, in the subway, on the walls at the stations, and in people’s websites where they give directions on how to get around! Do they think that 25 years of “R” designations will just “fade away” by wishing it so? As the late George Carlin (R.I.P.) said famously, “changing the name of a condition does NOT change the condition!” This is absolute madness. To say nothing of all the other changes they DON’T tell you about – like the fact that in the last four years they have installed BIG BROTHER CCTV CAMERAS on EVERY SINGLE BUS, TRAIN, and IN EVERY STATION, so some authority can watch commuters’ every move, every facial expression, and every item carried.