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It just wouldn't be Friday afternoon without at least one major problem on the T
By adamg on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 4:28pm
This week's Friday-afternoon issue: Disabled Green Line train at Haymarket.
Also heavy delays reported on the bus rapid transit line due to traffic on Washington Street.
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Comments
They had signal problems at that end of the Green Line
last night too, which was creating serious delays. What I surmised by the chatter I could overhear on the operator's radio as we were making our way between Park Street and GC was that operators could not invoke the traditional "one minute rule" for passing a red signal where clear track is in plain sight. Rather, each train encountering the defective signal had to get specific clearance from the dispactcher, and it was obvious the dispatcher was leaving lots of room between trains.
Perhaps this week's NTSB report has indeed had an effect, however temporary it may be, on Green Line protocol.
Temporary?
Ever since the crash at Park, the inbound between Boylston and Park has been an absolute nightmare. I switch to Red at Park so I can't really speak about going to GC, but what used to be a 1-2 minute trip between Boylston and Park has turned into a 5-10 minute ride lately.
After the Park wreck, dispatchers were deliberately holding
eastbound (inbound) trains at Park Street to minimize the number of trains in the tunnel between Park and GC at any given time. The result was slow crawl from Arlington to Park and then a really fast ride to GC.
However, they have relaxed this restriction within the past couple of weeks, and for the most part, the eastbound delays have been reduced. What is really holding up the traffic approaching both Park and GC now is the T's continued refusal to berth no more than one train on a platform at a time (I know I've mentioned this in several past posts - sorry but it's become a pet Green Line peeve of mine). When you're on a Lechmere or North Station train that's following the parade of 5 or 6 GC trains, the incremental delay really beings to pile up.
But...but... DEDICATED LANE!
But...but... DEDICATED LANE! That paint on the road is sure to keep drivers away from the bus right of way.
But not the bicyclists, who
apparently are legally allowed to share that lane with 60 foot articulated buses - and the bike lane markings are there as well. Logical move - NOT!
and we all know about how
and we all know about how the bicycle congestion can cause backups....
next excuse please, this one no work
Yes, I had my tounge firmly emplanted in cheek
when I wrote that.
B line at Haymarket?
I'm quite confused - I got a T alert that specified that the B line was experiencing delays due to a disabled car at Haymarket, which doesn't seem to make any sense since the B line terminates at Government Center.
B Line Running to Lechmere Today
I was confused this morning when I got on the B line--I always get off at Govt. Center, normally the last stop, but today the train was continuing to Lechmere.
Most likely that was a
re-routed train (the C line was having issues on Friday morning rush hour) rather than an actual schedule change for the B line.
Not uncommon during the AM rush, as I've ocassionally encountered westbound (inbound) B and D line trains at North Station.
Red Line doesn't want to be left out
Yeesh.
I must hear the absence of underground rumbling or something
I left work around 6 with my folding bike and I somehow decided that I would rather bike to Davis than take the red line.
Looks like I escaped a hell commute once again!