Does Philadelphia Have an S-Bahn?

Welcome to Philadelphia, home of an American S-Bahn system! Or not?

This is a deep dive into SEPTA Regional Rail - its history, its German-inspired origins, and its tenuous future. Is it an S-Bahn network? Does it really matter? And why is transit in Pennsylvania now in trouble? And what can we do about it? Find out today in this particularly brotherly love-filled episode of Tales from the S-Bahn!

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Resources to help save SEPTA:

SaveTheTrain.org: https://savethetrain.org/

SaveSEPTA.com: https://savesepta.com/

SEPTA's own Funding Crisis page: https://wwww.septa.org/fundingcrisis/

And also from SEPTA, here are their proposed service cuts: https://wwww.septa.org/fundingcrisis/service-cuts/

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Voice Credits and Special Thanks:

Onyon, who aided in research, did a voice line, and provided footage: https://bsky.app/profile/mmmonyon.bsky.social

@alanthefisher, who also both did a voice line and aided in research

@tomo-tawa-linja, who did a voice line and provided BART footage

Arson System, who helped film and did a voice line: https://zug.network/@rampagerslife@girldick.gay

Xander Created, who aided with filming: https://www.instagram.com/xander_created/

@BruscoTheBoar, who featured as the voice of god

Val, who aided in research and did a voice line: https://zug.network/@v@deutsche.miaubahn.de

Konrad from @gleisgenossen, who did a voice line

@GtotheNextLevel, who did a voice line

@SteveGettingAroundPhilly, who provided images of SEPTA

Felix, who gave me a bunch of footage of Munich/München: https://bsky.app/profile/felixpeu.bsky.social

Comethallee, who wrote a lovely letter and gave a bunch of SEPTA footage: https://www.instagram.com/comethallee/

And finally, the wonderful community in the TFTSB Discord/Revolt server, who helped me make sure this video came out perfect! I asked what to plug here, and they said to link my (still WIP) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tftsb

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Time Stamps:

Wilkommen in Philadelphia: 00:00
SEPTA 101: 01:49
SEPTA Regional Rail vs the Berlin S-Bahn: 04:14
The CCCC: 06:26
The Birth of the Philadelphia S-Bahn: 07:02
SEPTA Regional Rail vs Europe and The Rest of America: 10:11
The Three Kinds of S-Bahns (And Where Philly May Fit): 12:45
The Old SEPTA Regional Rail Numbering System (and You): 19:24
The Conclusion...or is it?: 20:12
Day in the Life of a SEPTA Passenger: 21:34
A Network (and State) in Crisis: 22:37
The Potential Dark Future Ahead: 24:49
The Decline of the American Empire: 27:59
The State of the State of Pennsylvania: 29:49
A Call to Activision: 33:27

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Music (In Order of Appearance):

COMPAKT's remix of "Dear Alan" by Justice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHX5XXzmDik
(Used with Permission)

"Mushroom Bridge and Mushroom City" from Mario Kart: Double Dash

"Main Theme" from Balatro

"Hydrocity" by Halc9Bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD5NDSLt3Yg

"Press Garden Act 2" from Sonic Mania

"Origami Robots" from k-wix via OCRemix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVaJ0T18Als

"Main Theme" from Balatro (again, I'm not sorry)

"Scarlet Fire" by Otis McDonald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yOskhDn468

"Sigma Stage 1" from Megaman X5

"C418" from Minecraft

"Ocean Palace (Wave Breaker)" by CotMM-68030 (via OCRemix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27bjfD10Yqc

"Blue FIelds" theme from Final Fantasy VIII

"Mt. Coronet [Remix] - Pokemon D/P/Pt" by Vanilluxe Pavillion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISdUE6hHymA

"Jammin' with My NES" by Shnabubula (via OCRemix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0efyWanRxU

"Smash Those Records!" by jnWake (via OCRemix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZI5ct8s5e8

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Also, check out my Discord: https://discord.gg/xbyH7TYJzk

Or if you'd rather, join the server via Revolt: https://rvlt.gg/Ajb872Gd

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As for references (even though I know a lot of this was anecdotal), I've compiled them all into a neat Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AvPW5FBpvB1-boX2P_Clp44memQqNSuYzTehTcgrn0c/edit?usp=sharing

All clips used either with permission, under fair use, or under creative commons.

Видео Does Philadelphia Have an S-Bahn? канала Tales from the S-Bahn