commuter rail

Better commuter-rail service to Worcester

adamg — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:52:32 -0400

Train Stopping rounds up all the coverage on yesterday's announcement that the state will pay $100 million to CSX to buy the rail line between Worcester and Boston - which includes new train runs starting later this month.

MBTA/MBCR disregard their own signs

adamg — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:43:27 -0400

Lori Magno got to Wedgemere station this morning to see a sign (taped to a trash can) telling riders that track work meant they need to board the inbound train on the outbound track.

Guess which track the train came on?

... When the conductor stepped off I asked him what he knew about the sign and he just shook his head (trying not to chuckle) and suggested I speak to customer service at North Station. Feeling up for a challenge, I did stop by customer service and spoke to a nice young woman who asked me to forward the photograph so she could send it to her supervisor. I left my business card too in case they want to respond.

WiFi prankster on the Providence Line

adamg — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:29:11 -0400

Looks like somebody with a grudge changed the name of the wireless access point on one train out of Providence.

Primo wiring on a commuter-rail coach

adamg — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:20:49 -0400

Jack Croww reports from the 4:40 Fitchburg express, five minutes out of North Station:

... [T]he utility closet door starts to drift open due to the swaying of the train. Seeing as I'm sitting right next to it, I reach out and give it a good shove to close it. As it clicks shut, all the power goes out on the train. ...

Delays expected for southbound commuter-rail riders this afternoon

adamg — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:20:53 -0400

Due to derailment at South Station.

Super-angry commuter-rail conductors

adamg — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:08:02 -0400

Michaela reports:

I've taken the commuter rail from Providence to Back Bay several times in the past few weeks for internship interviews, and one thing constant with my trips are that the commuter rail workers, especially female, are super angry and pissed off at everything! ...

Commuter rail breaks up families

adamg — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:46:34 -0400

Channel 4 reports:

The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad is looking at making some changes after a train in Waltham started to move before three children were able to get off, separating them from their parents. ...

While the MBTA rushes, sorta, to keep people from evading fares electronically ...

adamg — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:40:15 -0400

They might wish to have a word with the MBCR's commuter-rail conductors. From a Worcester-line rider's note to the MBCR about a late train on Aug. 14:

... It's bad enough to have your trains arrive over 30 minutes late with no signage indicating so at the station! The female conductor did not even bother to collect fares. I asked another passenger who boarded at South Station, and she said that the conductor did not collect for passengers boarding there either. ...

They could rename it Beijing Bay station

adamg — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:58:42 -0400

Ever wonder if the T purposely designed Back Bay station to funnel all the diesel fumes into the station instead of away from it? EnuhCork reports it's even worse than usual these days:

... Once you walk up the stairs from the Orange Line platform, you start to feel the air getting heavier...start to smell some smoggy odors.

Soon, you're running for the door because you can't breathe.

Commuter rail in the mist

adamg — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:10:50 -0400

Franklin station in the mist this morning.