They've got a schedule to keep, dammit

More along this line.

This morning: A packed carload of people on the Green Line because service has been slow out on the Riverside line ... and more get on at Reservoir. The doors close, and the LCD sign all of sudden says, "Express to Fenway." Half the car is filled with people going to Longwood. I make my way up from the rear and ask the driver, nicely, "Would you mind stopping at Longwood? We weren't told this was express to Fenway till after the doors closed."

"I can't do that."

"But, you have 100 people who want to go to Longwood who didn't know that this was express to Fenway till after the doors closed at Reservoir."

"I am not allowed to do that."

"Would you please call your dispatcher and ask permission?"

We sit at Brookline Hills for five minutes -- backing up still more cars behind us -- while the driver waits for Central to respond. He does, and she is told to open her doors to let people out. Next announcement,

"Get out of the train if you don't want to go to Fenway, and take the next train."

Even before people get off the train, the platform outside is packed. At least two trainloads of people are waiting.

I decide to stay on and go to Fenway and walk back to Longwood. After all, who knows I would have been stranded in Brookline?

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I really like Dan Grabauskas, and I know he is trying hard to improve the T. But can I offer a suggestion? Take down those really big pictures of yourself at the T stations -- you know, the ones of you standing in front of the American flag -- because I fear for the personal abuse you will take if people get to know what you look like and recognize you on the street.