Commuter rail (45 minutes) and Red Line delays (15 minutes) today, according to WERS. Why? There was snow yesterday? What was going on?
I've said this before, but it bears repeating. This is Massachusetts. Sometimes it gets cold, and sometimes it snows. (And sometimes it gets wicked hot.) How can we have a rail system that can't withstand even minor snowfall? Or maybe there was some other excuse.
Of course, the T infamously deprives its customers of up-to-date information they need in case of delays. So citizens are getting their own ad-hoc system alerts together. This is what it's come to. And meanwhile, doubtless many, many folks are deciding to drive instead. More pollution, more traffic.
Hey, WiFi is nice. But isn't the train supposed to get somewhere on time?
Does our governor care? Did he mention this in his State of the Commonwealth? He's eager to roll out commuter rail to New Bedford, but what's happening to the existing tracks?
(Thanks to Adam, who by tracking people's stories and reactions, is a critical advocate for MBTA customers.)
if we get new commuter rail to NeBedfahd, and it works as advertised, then the system performance percentage will be improved without having to fix anything!
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p>It’s also worth noting that expanding MBTA services to more communities creates more natural funding allies on Beacon Hill. It’s a nice long term strategy to get infrastructure funding from the lege directly.
New Beffad
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p>or
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p>New Beige
Sorry, HR. I grew up down there and that’s how we affectionately refer to the Whaling City.
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p>Go down there and ask.
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p>Just trying to inject some accurate local flavor.
There currently are barely enough platforms at South Station to service the existing commuter rail service plus Amtrak. When the slightest thing goes wrong, trains have to wait to get into the station. Adding yet another new line would be a real problem unless they can find a way to expand the tracks — probably by taking over the space currently occupied by the Post Office.
Ironically enough, South Station had several more tracks and platforms- right where the Postal Annex and Stone and Webster are. After the Old Colony lines shut down in 1959, there were too many tracks, so the BRA tore down part of South Station and sold the land!
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p>(Kind of a common theme around these parts- many of Boston’s present-day problems are a result of something that the BRA did during the 1960s….)
… so they’re doing something right!
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p>
to wait for the train.