This information is preliminary and subject to change.
Updated 29 October, 2025
On September 25, 2025, about 6:58 a.m., westbound Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley 111 experienced a pantograph separation from the trolley car while transporting passengers on track 2 of the D1 Line at milepost 3.97 in Springfield, Pennsylvania (footnote 1). Trolley 111 was traveling around 38 mph en route to Media, Pennsylvania, when the trolley’s pantograph became entangled with the overhead catenary system at Scenic Road Interlocking (footnote 2). As a result of the entanglement, the pantograph was dislodged from the car rooftop, and components of the pantograph penetrated the car body and entered the passenger compartment. (See figure above.)
Trolley 111 consisted of a single car and was carrying one crew member and nine passengers at the time of the accident. The trolley operator and three passengers requested transport to the hospital for minor injuries. At the time of this report, estimated damage costs were yet to be determined. Visibility conditions at the time of the collision were cloudy and unobstructed. The weather was 74°F with no precipitation.
While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators conducted trolley, catenary, and track inspections; completed interviews; reviewed event recorder and both inward- and outward-facing image recorder data; reviewed radio communications, training programs, maintenance and inspection records as well as company policies and procedures.
As a result of this accident, SEPTA suspended operations on both tracks of the D line to perform inspections and repairs on the catenary system.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on SEPTA’s overhead catenary system inspection and maintenance processes, trend analysis for risk management policies, and safety assurance procedures.
Parties to the investigation include:
- the Federal Transit Administration;
- the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation;
- SEPTA;
- the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division.
Footnotes
- (a) All times in this report are local. (b) A pantograph is a collapsible, articulated device mounted on the roof of an electric vehicle, such as a tram or trolley bus, that collects electric current from overhead lines to power the vehicle's motor.
- A catenary system uses an overhead wire to supply electricity to vehicles such as light rail trains and streetcars.
- The D line comprises two trolley services originating at 69th Street Transit Center in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania: the 8.6 mile D1 to Media, Pennsylvania, and the 5.3 mile D2 to Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. The D line serves about 5,000 riders each weekday.
