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And there's a dead train at Porter
By adamg on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 8:51am
Via Danielle Ouellette, who says it just bolsters her belief she should have just stayed in bed this morning.
Ben Jackson: Today the role of the Green Line will be played by the Red Line.
Patrice Morris says the role of the Green Line today was also played by the Green Line: GD trolley! GD Redline, GD getting to work early!
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Bad morning for the T
Bad morning for the T --
* Blue Line experiencing 20-25 min outbound delays due to power problem at Maverick 10/28/2009 9:11 AM
* Red Line experiencing 25-30 min delays inbound between Alewife and Park Street due to disabled train at Porter Sq. 10/28/2009 8:15 AM
* Green C Line experiencing 10 min delay due to disabled train at Coolidge Corner. 10/28/2009 8:16 AM
Come on, Orange Line! You
Come on, Orange Line! You can do it, too!
Blue Line delay far longer
20-25 min delays on the blue line? How about more like 45-50, which is how long it just took me to get from Government Center to Airport.
There was a new line from the operator, which sounded like (the English was a bit rough):"...disabled train at Maverick.....On behalf of the MBTA, I would like to apologize for the delay and thank you for riding the MBTA."
I just thought the "on behalf of" part was interesting. I wonder if the T has given the operators new standard phrases because I did not have the feeling that the fellow making the announcements would have chosen that line on his own.
Ugh. The MBTA folks were up
Ugh. The MBTA folks were up to their usual tricks this morning, initially telling everyone on the disabled Red Line train in Porter that there would be "10 to 15 minute" delays (try an hour) and yelling that there were "trains directly behind this one" as people tried boarding, when "directly behind" apparently meant 3 stations away. If you're going to ruin our mornings, as least don't lie to us as you do it.
All in favor of a fare hike for such superb service?
fare hike
As a matter of fact, yes. I would favor a moderate fare hike because the poor service is the result of the system being starved for money. As I said a few days ago, the T is too cheap and paying a little more for it would change the "you get what you pay for" equation. You cannot reasonably expect to run a transit system like this with finances like the T has (the problems with which were largely caused by the Commonwealth and not the T).
Would a "moderate" fare hike
Would a "moderate" fare hike really solve delays? It wouldn't allow the T to overhaul the entire train system, which is really what is needed if we want to stop delays.
I was on the disabled Red Line train this morning. It stopped in the tunnel and the conductor announced that the train was "dead." It took 40 minutes for another train to come along and push the train into Porter. I assume that the T has enough mechanics or whatever on staff to inspect and maintain trains before they are put in service.
I might consider accepting a moderate fare hike if
we could get real assurances from T management that the extra money would actually go to operating and maintaining the trains and buses, and not to more "cute but worthless" electronic gimmicks like automated arrival systems and "nanny message" PA and message board announcements.
The T's wasteful use of resources in this manner thus far is akin to the teenager who knows his car needs an engine overhaul to keep running but opts to install a 300 watt aftermarket stereo in the car instead.
They think that helps!
There was a "tag along for the day" article about T conductors in the Globe last year. Some conductor prided himself on announcing that there was a train directly behind, "even if there isn't", because it reassures the riders.
We should start telling the MBTA that we're jumping over the turnstiles because there's someone directly behind us who'll pay our fare.
Well...
What does "directly behind" mean exactly?
Even if a train is 10 stops behind the current train, it's still "directly behind" the train. The only time "directly behind" would be wrong if there was an out of service train between the two trains.
But, whatever, I think it's a stupid phrase too.
A Better Idea
How about a status board that shows you where the trains are?
Heck, if a brewpub can do this for the next three trolley appearances outside their door (given a link to the actual information, of course), the MBTA can set it up!
Delays south of town as well
The Red Line south of downtown was delayed as well--took me twice as long to get to work as it normally does, on a very crowded train. An employee did make an announcement at some point, but I couldn't hear what was going on. Once we got underground at Andrew things were OK.
Screw the MBTA
Those plastic-hard rubber street crossings on the Green Line that they installed like 2-3 years ago are friggin' AWFUL!
When it rains, they have absolutely ZERO traction. You can sit at any of the crossings and hear the CARS slipping on them. Who installs slippery road surface where the T and cars are trying to share the road?? Who does that???
I ate it on my scooter today trying to get across the one at Washington St. If it's bad for a car, who still gets 4 tires to sit on, then it's just like ice skating on a 2-wheeler because there's a good half of the intersection where you have both wheels on the crappy surfacing. You can't stop, you can't turn, you can't do anything!
Hey, MBTA, thanks a pantsload. Oh, and your rubber gasket around the tracks at Warren St is all pulled out from around the track, making yet ANOTHER fun intersection to try and drive on.
I hate you. Die.
PS - all of you fellow citizens who saw/heard me go down and didn't even pause to ask if I was okay as I picked myself up and checked everything out on the side of Comm Ave...yeah, you're my best friends too right now.
Jeez, kaz, sorry to hear
Jeez, kaz, sorry to hear about your fall. I am happy, however, to know that you are okay (which I infer from the fact that you clearly are ready for a fight!). Incidentally, may I ask if anyone got out of a car and asked if you were okay?
On a separate topic, this is another example of what happens when you run things on a shoestring budget. If the T was not so money-starved, perhaps they would have installed concrete crossings (at least at the busier, more heavily travelled crossings like Wash. St.), like those I have seen on the Long Island Rail Road, and which seem to hold up far, far better.
I'm fine
Bump and a bruise on my knee and it seems that's it. Fortunately, I was able to slow down as soon as I started to lose it (on the outbound side of the rails) and fell over at about 3 mph (on the inbound rails).
Nobody got out of a car, wound down a window, walked over from the T stop, paused on the crosswalks...and I saw people at every single one of these places after I stood back up. It was surreal to me.
Correction
Last name is spelled Ouellette, but thanks for reposting this. Hope everyone else's commute went smoother.
not to brag but...
as normal, zero delays on the bike ride to work :)
i'm not bragging either when
i'm not bragging either when i say that i'm slightly taller than you
Dead trolley at Park Street for the evening comute
Perfect bookend for the day; T says it's delaying outbound service on the B line.
When did this happen?
I was on an outbound B trolley at Park Street right at the time you posted this, on my way to Sarah Vowell's author talk at the BPL. I didn't notice any delay.
5:29 p.m.
At least, that's the post time on the alert item in RSS.