Kevin Sparks, 34, of Sharon Hill, died shortly before 8 a.m. when he was struck by a southbound train traveling on a rail line normally reserved only for northbound trains, SEPTA officials said. Sparks worked for the transit agency the past eight years. Neither Sparks’ death nor the fire is directly related to the strike by SEPTA’s City Transit workers, officials said. Sparks’ union did not return calls Thursday.
PHILADELPHIA. A catastrophe struck a SEPTA Regional Rail line for the second consecutive day Thursday when a rail inspector was killed by a passing train, but riders beared a third day of long waits to get out of Center City, while others made alternate plans to get to and from work.
Most daily train riders like Vera Wilson of Swarthmore also seemed willing to stick it out in the days ahead even if the strike by city bus and subway operators persists into next week.
"What else is there to do?" Wilson said as she waited in line at about 5:35 p.m. "The road traffic is just as bad and I've been very fortunate so far to get on a train that's left on time both days. I even got to sit down."
Wilson, waiting for the R3, was fortunate enough to come from a southern destination the past two days, as a train fire in West Philadelphia Tuesday caused delays along western regional rail routes and a SEPTA worker's death Thursday caused delays on northern routes.
Three days of long lines and delays did make at least one rider question how he would get to work Monday if the strike lasted through the weekend.
"I may consider getting in my car and hitting the road," Kevin Greseck of Ambler said.
Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady met with officials from SEPTA's largest union twice yesterday in hopes of brokering a deal that would end a three-day-old transit strike of bus, trolley and train operators.
There were no signs of the strike ending as of press time.
SEPTA was considering ways to reconfigure its five-year offer, but did not plan to make major changes on wages, benefits or pensions, Rendell said. Transport Workers Union Local 234 officials have said that pensions are the biggest key to a deal.
Workers went on strike 3 a.m. Tuesday, causing commuters to crowd Regional Rail trains and clog traffic on roads and highways.