SEPTA is holding required employee training during recent crashes

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — SEPTA warns bus and trolley passengers to expect delays on their commute from Monday.

The transport company requires safety training from all employees after several serious accidents.

John Hartmann of Northern Liberties tours the city every day with SEPTA.

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He says the bus is delayed so often that he sometimes just walks, but now his commute could get even longer.

“It’s definitely not going to help. I also have two jobs so I use SEPTA a lot for that. So that’s probably going to be pretty hectic,” Hartmann said.

Starting Monday, SEPTA will take bus and trolley drivers out of their regular duties so they can participate in mandatory safety training.

SEPTA says riders should expect delays for the next eight weeks.

“I’ll probably have to use Lyft and Uber a lot more, which I’ll have to account for in my budget, which won’t be fun,” Hartmann said.

on July 21 two SEPTA buses collided on Roosevelt Boulevard in Rhawnhurst, killing a passenger and injuring 13 other people.

On July 25, a SEPTA bus went off the road and hit a building 15th and Walnut Street in Center City.

Then on July 28 a SEPTA trolley jumped over the rails and hit a historic building in Southwest Philly.

A commuter, Sylvester H. Stone, feels discouraged.

“It’s a shame. I’ve never heard of that sort of thing in my life, and I’ve been here a long time,” Stone said.

SEPTA says the one-day intensive training will emphasize the importance of safety and provide a forum for employees to provide feedback.

The training will start with 2500 bus and trolley drivers and will eventually include all employees.

“We’re doing our best to get as much off as possible before Labor Day because we know that passenger numbers will pick up. Schools are back. People are coming back from vacations,” said SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch.

Hartmann says the delays will take some getting used to, but he understands the necessity of the training.

“I think it’s good,” Hartmann said. “I would like as much training as possible if I were working for SEPTA. I know they do, I mean their job is pretty tough.”

SEPTA says it will do everything it can to minimize disruption to customers during the training.