How SEPTA Cuts Will Impact Central Bucks Co. Commuters

DOYLESTOWN, PA — While Central Bucks SEPTA commuters will escape the immediate impact of major service cuts as a result of a battle over transit funding in Harrisburg, they will feel the impact of a 21.5 percent fare increase scheduled to take effect on Labor Day, Sept. 1.

The Pennsylvania Legislature last week was unable to strike a deal that the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican controlled-Senate could agree on, leaving SEPTA and its roughly 770,000 daily riders facing service cuts and fare increases.

Starting on Sunday, 32 bus routes will be eliminated, and 16 will be shortened throughout the system. A 21.5 percent fare increase will be implemented on Sept. 1, as will a complete hiring freeze for all SEPTA jobs.

Should SEPTA still remain in the red, more austerity measures will be implemented Jan. 1, 2026, including the reduction of five regional rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, and the Wilmington/Newark Line.

There will be a significant reduction in trips on all rail services, an end to all special services, including the Sports Express, 18 additional bus route eliminations, and a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services.

While the five lines are slated for elimination in January, the Doylestown-Lansdale Line will remain in operation. So will the 55 Bus, which services the Doylestown area and the Route 611 corridor in Warminster and Warrington, connecting both areas to Center City.

Riders can see full details of the service reductions online here.

Starting Sunday, SEPTA will eliminate 32 bus routes:

They are Bus Routes 1, 8, 12, 19, 30, 31, 35, 47, 50, 62, 73, 78, 80, 88, 89, 91, 106, 120, 126, 133, 150, 201, 204, 206, 311, 452, 461, 462, 476, 478, and 484.

Sixteen bus routes will also be shortened:

They are 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 17, 27, 43, 61, 84, 115, 124, 125, 433, 441, 495

Eighty-eight other routes will have reduced service. These include dozens of bus routes, the Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, the Media-Sharon Hill Line, trolleys (including the Girard bus/trolley route), and all 13 regional rail lines.

Anyone with questions about the changes should be directed to SEPTA at 215-580-7800.

Patch Staff Writer Max Bennett contributed to this report