Another week, another MBCR edict to their passengers.

Just got this e-mail from MBCR regarding changes in off-peak boarding of trains.

Customer Service Information

Changes to “Off-Peak” Boarding

Beginning Monday, February 1, 2010, new off peak train boarding and operating procedures will be implemented on all commuter rail lines. From this date forward, no off peak trains will be allowed to depart a station until all exterior doors are fully closed.

To assist with this procedure, we request that all customers use the high-level platform or the outer end of the platform at each station during off peak hours and board into the limited number of open coaches indicated by the train crew. Limiting customer occupancy to fewer cars on off peak trains will assist with the proper collection of revenue, enhance boarding safety and improve on-time performance. Off peak service is displayed in gray on the public schedules.

If you are boarding outbound trains at South and North Station before 4:00PM or after 8:00PM, you will be directed to board at the outer end of the station on the coaches closest to the locomotive.

We are making these changes to off peak boarding procedures in an effort to improve the level of customer safety. Reducing the number of doors in use allows staff to make certain that outer doors are closed prior to departure. This will ensure that we do not compromise the overall on-time performance of your trains.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind customers that they MUST NOT open their own doors or traps and must always board where a conductor is present. The practice of passengers opening their own doors will delay trains as train crews will be required to shut all traps and outside doors before the train can depart the station.

Peak period trains, highlighted in yellow on your schedule, will continue to board as usual so that we can comfortably accommodate the larger number of customers.

We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation while we improve the level of safety for our customers.

This sounds to me like another lawyer-inspired arbitrary practice that also appears to be a means for MBCR to justify further staff reductions on trains. That havind been said, I can understand the desire to limit the number of cars open to passengers on off-peak trains if you have only one or two crewmembers. However, I question why passngers boarding at North or South Stations have to walk to the far end of the train to board. Why not open the cars closest to the waiting area instead? Oh wait, that would mean invoking COMMON SENSE, a concept which seems to be alien to the MBTA/MBCR.