SEPTA Readies For Huge Crowds Expected On Regional Rail During Papal Visit Weekend
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- SEPTA is taking extra precautions to manage the huge crowds expected on the regional rail line this weekend.
With rail passenger service expected to double on Saturday and triple on Sunday, SEPTA will be dispatching its own shock troops to handle the crowds.
"We're going to have up to 2,000 employees that are ambassadors, that are gonna be watching the platforms, making sure we don't overcrowd the platforms."
Director of System Safety Scott Sauer says, "We can fit about a thousand people per train, so that's what we're going to get on the platforms. So there will be queing areas all over the system where you can que to wait for the trains so we are not overcrowding the platforms."
The prospect of huge crowds didn't appear to deter early arriving pilgrims.
"I don't mind because its a once in a lifetime occurrence so I'm looking forward to it."
"We're from LA so we're used to big crowds. So we should be okay."
If concourses become too jammed, lines will be formed in the street. In addition, signs will be posted telling riders where to park, where to walk and where to line up.
SEPTA says this plan is the result of lessons learned from the crowds that overwhelmed the system after the Phillies victory parade in 2008.