Due to a $213 million budget deficit, SEPTA Regional Rail has announced a proposed budget plan which will close the Paoli-Thorndale Line permanently.

The proposed budget plan is due to be fully implemented by July 1 and is a result of a lack of federal funding for the transport system. The plan requires the elimination of 45 percent of SEPTA services, a 9 p.m curfew for all rail lines, increased fares and workforce reductions, as detailed in a press release published on April 10. The Paoli-Thorndale Line is the closest SEPTA station to Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, and one of the 5 regional rail lines that are set to be cut by January 1.

Ridership declined significantly during the pandemic, and SEPTA has yet to bounce back from the economic strain. In 2020, they received a total of $644 million from the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, the CARES Act expired in 2021 and SEPTA has not been able to make up for the lost revenue.

Read the full piece at The Bi-College News: https://bicollegenews.com/2025/04/12/proposed-septa-budget-cuts-set-to-eliminate-paoli-thorndale-line/