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Is this getting just a little old? Commuter rail can't handle the cold

By adamg on Tue, 01/21/2025 - 9:49am

The MBTA reports scads of problems on commuter-rail lines into South Station this morning due to trains with "mechanical issues," and switches with unspecified issues.

Topics: 
The T
Free tagging: 
Commuter rail
Cold
South Station


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Comments

By Kaz on Tue, 01/21/2025 - 10:17pm.

I was stuck on a train trying to get to lunch and the B's game due to an automatic switch failing.

Then on the way home, trains were being canceled due to mechanical issues and the train I caught was late leaving and only one door was working on the whole train.

By Lee on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 10:16am.

My rides were on time and uneventful. Was expecting worse.
I went through North Station.

By Kaz on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 4:20pm.

It was my first time taking the Fairmount line into South Station from Readville. Was surprised at how empty the parking lot was (even though it was a holiday). I think I even surprised the conductor when I was going down the train trying to figure out which door to enter.

Everything was going smoothly until we got to the overpass just outside South Station and then my 30 minute lunchtime was wiped out and I ended up paying for overpriced concessions at the game ($25 for a sausage and a soda...really??).

On the way back, the Red Line decide to sit at Park St and try closing its doors over and over again before making it back to South Station to find the schedule on the Fairmount just decimated. I thought I was gonna miss the 4:17...but it didn't leave until 4:30 anyways.

It's sad that Readville is inside the city limits but considered "Zone 2" (an extra $5 each way) instead of Zone 1A like the Fairmount stop less than a mile away (which has about 300 fewer parking spaces). But I guess the tradeoff is the parking at Readville is only $2/day.

On a good day, the train saves me hassle but no real time over driving (Am Legion to Blue Hill Ave to Melnea Cass to 93 to downtown) and it's a lot cheaper even at $2+$14 than the $35 parking fee downtown (and the wear and tear of Blue Hill Ave on my car). I'll probably do it in fair weather...but I really really hope Keolis and MBTA don't let me down too often like Monday or I'm going to start reconsidering the cost versus the delays/scheduling.

By Lee on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 7:52pm.

Readville absolutely should be Zone1A. Sounds like part of the reason for the higher fare could be to subsidize the cheaper parking. That’s just unfair to those who don’t use the parking lot.

The commuter rail is a so much more pleasant way to get in and out of the city than driving. But the high fares, the schedules and the unreliability make it difficult to use sometimes.

$25 for a sausage is criminal.

By lbb on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 11:07am.

And the passengers huddled together for warmth. I've been on some commuter rail trains that seemed to rely on passengers' exothermic reactions for heat.