SEPTA Trolley Diversion At Night. On the evening of Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the "West Philadelphia" SEPTA trolleys (all lines except for the G1/Route 15) that normally operate to the trolley subway from the 40th Street Station were instead detoured to cover the 'diversion tracks' in University City, where commuters can transfer to the L/Market Frankford Subway at 40th/Market. The detours are necessary due to ongoing emergency repairs to the infrastructure in the trolley subway, damage to overhead wire that SEPTA states was caused by the recent change from 3-inch to 4-inch sliders. Sliders are basically the modern version of the wheel at the end of the trolley pole to contact the wires. These tracks are used during the annual subway maintenance blitz for about a week or so in the summer when the schools in the area are mostly out of session, and otherwise only for non-revenue moves. On this night, there was significant rush hour vehicular traffic along the route, which created congestion along the trolley route, creating a number of interesting scenes.
The famous vintage free standing 'Mansard Roof' McDonald's lasted at this location on 40th/Walnut into the 2020s. It has since been replaced by a larger building with a McDonald's on the first floor. In 2024, SEPTA 9000 was repainted into the "as delivered" heritage scheme while being overhauled at the Woodland Shops.
