How many train fires is too many?

This year alone, five SEPTA Regional Rail trains have caught fire—forcing emergency evacuations and putting the lives of passengers and workers at risk. The cause? Aging trains that are over 50 years old, being pushed far beyond their limits. The state’s failure to invest in safe, reliable public transit has now reached a breaking point, and riders are the ones paying the price.

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued an emergency order. Engineers are scrambling to inspect more than 200 Silverliner IV cars. Crowded trains are skipping stops or being canceled entirely. And still—there’s no long-term fix in place.

This crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. Riders, union members, and advocates have been warning lawmakers for years that without real investment, SEPTA service would fall apart. And now it is. In 2025, budget talks in Harrisburg stalled again. There was no new recurring funding. Service cuts were announced. And only a last-minute temporary patch from Governor Josh Shapiro saved the system from complete collapse. But even that plan drained nearly $400 million from long-term capital funds—money meant for projects like replacing these very trains.

Enough is enough.

We, the undersigned, are calling on Governor Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and SEPTA’s Board of Directors to make emergency and recurring funding for SEPTA a top state priority. Riders deserve trains that don’t catch fire. Communities deserve transit that connects them to jobs, schools, and healthcare—safely and reliably. Pennsylvania’s future depends on it.

We demand a bold, long-term plan to modernize SEPTA’s rail fleet, restore service, and keep transit affordable and safe for all. No more delays. No more fires. No more excuses.

Sign this petition to show our leaders: safe transit can’t wait.