In an effort to reduce costs and address a looming deficit, SEPTA has cut service on the R8 regional rail line effective November 9. Weekday trains will run once per hour instead of every 30 minutes between 9:41 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. A total of seven inbound and five outbound trains have been eliminated. Sunday trains will run every 90 minutes instead of once per hour.

SEPTA spokesman Jim Whitaker said, “Other regional rail and bus routes have experienced minor service cuts and schedule adjustments. SEPTA has coordinated the Chestnut Hill West schedule with the Chestnut Hill East schedule so that riders will be able to catch a train out of Chestnut Hill every half hour.”

Local civic leaders have criticized the schedule cuts. In a statement, Marc Stier, founder of the Northwest Campaign for Public Transportation (NCPT) and President of West Mt. Airy Neighbors, called the service cuts “incredibly foolish” because they wouldn’t save much money.

Stier said, “These cuts in service are also extremely dangerous to the future of the R8. They will surely lead to a loss in ridership. And then, in a few years, SEPTA will come and demand further cuts on the grounds that ridership on the R8 is declining.”

According to Whittaker, SEPTA faced a deficit in excess of $40 million, but through across-the- board service adjustments, including those of the R8, the transit authority was able to reduce it to $26 million. Whittaker maintained that the R8 line was not in danger of being cut completely.

The NCPT is planning a public meeting with SEPTA officials next week to discuss the issue, but has not announced a date or time.