Burst Pipes Flood SEPTA Stations Across Philadelphia

Extreme cold triggers water main breaks, forcing station closures but not disrupting train service.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A series of burst pipes on February 9-10, 2026 sent water into multiple SEPTA stations in Philadelphia, coated stairwells in ice, and forced several entrances to close, though train service across the system continued without delays or cancellations. SEPTA officials say the issues were caused by the recent extreme cold weather and the aging infrastructure of the city's water mains.

Why it matters

The pipe bursts and flooding at SEPTA stations highlight the ongoing challenges Philadelphia faces with its aging infrastructure, especially during extreme weather events. While the incidents did not disrupt train service, they caused significant inconvenience for commuters and raised concerns about the city's ability to maintain critical transportation systems.

The details

According to SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch, the transit agency has recorded about 10 incidents involving water main breaks or burst pipes over the past two weeks, with roughly half of the pipes belonging to SEPTA and the other half belonging to other property owners. Many of the recent problems have occurred along the eastern edge of the Market-Frankford Line, where the pipes are the oldest and in some locations, exposed. Busch said the combination of deep freezes followed by warming weather is the primary cause of the issues.

  • On Monday night, February 9, a water main break flooded Jefferson Station in Center City after a pipe owned by the Convention Center burst.
  • Also on Monday night, February 9, a Philadelphia Water Department pipe burst outside the Tasker-Morris Station on SEPTA's Broad Street Line, causing water to rush into the station and quickly freeze.
  • On Tuesday, February 10, water was seen pouring onto the sidewalk and street outside the SEPTA station at Kensington and Allegheny avenues in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood.

The players

SEPTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which operates public transportation services in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Philadelphia Water Department

The city agency responsible for managing Philadelphia's water infrastructure, including approximately 3,200 miles of water mains with an average age of around 77 years.

Andrew Busch

A spokesperson for SEPTA.

Alex Zipf

A resident of Callowhill, Philadelphia.

Jamir Randolph

A resident of South Philadelphia.

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What they’re saying

“All sorts of ice, the stairwell is totally inaccessible.”

— Alex Zipf (southphillyreview.com)

“I seen the thing and I was like, 'Oh no, I'm not walking down this.' I had to go across the street.”

— Jamir Randolph (southphillyreview.com)

“Philly is an old city. All the water mains are probably over a hundred years old. And then you have this extreme cold that we're not used to having. It's bound to happen.”

— Day Hall, SEPTA rider (southphillyreview.com)

What’s next

SEPTA is preparing a winterization project scheduled to begin this summer, which will likely include installing new valves on water lines, replacing pipe insulation, and upgrading heating strips inside the pipes. Officials said the project is expected to be completed around the start of next year.

The takeaway

The pipe bursts and flooding at SEPTA stations underscore the need for Philadelphia to invest in upgrading its aging infrastructure, particularly the water mains, to better withstand extreme weather events. While the incidents did not disrupt train service, they highlight the ongoing challenges the city faces in maintaining critical transportation systems for its residents.