Rail Worker Killed On Day 3 Of Philadelphia Transit Strike

November 5, 2009 12:45 p.m. EST

Philadelphia, PA (AHN) - A Philadelphia rail worker died after being hit by a train on Thursday, the third day of a strike by the biggest union of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

According to the transit agency, service was suspended on the Warminster (R2), West Trenton (R3) and Lansdale/Doylestown(R5) lines midmorning because of the death, which occurred near Melrose Park. The three lines began operating between Center City and Fern Rock just before noon, and resumed running in both directions about an hour later.

SEPTA has not released details of the death, but KYW radio cites an agency spokesman as saying the incident happened while the victim was walking southbound with a fellow worker on the tracks, and a train that had been forced to operate on the northbound track because of a glitch.

The death comes a day after three SEPTA crew members were brought to a hospital for observation because a fire in a train running the Paoli/Thorndale line.

A fire broke out during Wednesday's morning rush hour in the lead car of a four-car train about a mile east of Overbrook Station. About 1,000 passengers were evacuated from the train, but none, including the three transit workers, were injured. An investigation is still underway, but SEPTA's Assistant General Manager for Public and Operational Safety, James Jordan, says the fire was "accidental."

Wednesday's commute was also marked by the opening of schools after a a day-long teacher seminar. Included in the day's difficult commute were students, teachers and administrators of the School District of Philadelphia, who were returning after a "professional development day" for staff.

The Transport Workers Union Local 234 began their strike early morning on Tuesday, only hours after Philadelphia hosted the World Series.

The walkout has disrupted trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34 and 36, and all lettered city transit bus routes as well as 1 through 89. Owl service and Frontier Bus routes 90 through 99 have also been affected.

But regional rail is operating, as well as bus, trolley and high speed lines in suburban areas, except route 116. The green and gold loop service from 30th Street Station into University City is also still running.

TWU's contract expired on March 15, without any new agreement despite talks with SEPTA since December last year. The contract covers 4,700 bus, subway and trolley workers in the city.

The union wants a 4 percent annual pay raise and a $25-per-month increase in pension payments for each year of service. It originally sought a 6 percent annual wage hike. But transit officials had proposed no pay raises for the next five years, and then offered a 2 percent increase for the third and fourth years of service.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell had intervened over weekend and successfully convinced both sides to continue negotiations. He said on Tuesday

that TWU leaders had rejected a "sensational" contract offer. "It was an excellent contract, but union leadership walked out on a big victory for their members," Rendell said. "They are not in touch with the economic conditions affecting all of us."

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's office had activated the city's emergency operations center but on Thursday deactivated the EOC and said it would not activate it for the remainder of the strike. However, parking restrictions in selected locations ares still suspended, and so are the temporary rules increasing the number of vehicles that offer taxicab service.

Nutter has also partnered with the Bicycle Coalition, which is urging commuters to use their bikes, and is offering parking corrals, fee coffee and bike maps at a "Bike the Strike" station in Dillworth Plaza at City Hall.

SEPTA serves 3.9 million riders in the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Rising unemployment and the recession nationwide has prompted many transit agencies to lay off and implement cost cutting measures. SEPTA suffered declining commuter traffic as well but posted a 1 percent increase in ridership in the 2009 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. The additional trips translated to $12 million, or 3 percent more in revenues.