At 6:58 a.m., the MBTA reported Orange Line riders could expect delays due to one of the brand-new trains suffering an embarrassing "mechanical issue" at Malden Center. The T updated at 7:28 a.m. that service was back to the new normal.
If yesterday was the Day of Shiny Floors (and smiling ambassadors and Dunkin' gift cards) on the Orange Line, today is Return to the Old Days Day: Read more.
Manny Lim was among the growing horde stuck at Malden Center shortly after 7 a.m., what with firefighters on the tracks investigating the source of smoke rising from them. The T reports everything's back to normal now.
A train that collapsed in a heap at Malden Center was shoved out of the way, but, of course, not before jamming up the whole Orange Line.
An Orange Line train with X's where its eyes used to be is causing "moderate" delays, the MBTA reports.
Riders probably too tired to beef at Wellington about bustitution. Photo by Tim Healey.
Just at the start of rush hour, a train just outside Malden Center proved worse off than a doorknob. The Malden Fire Department had to be called into to evacuate the packed train, which means the T had to shut off power in both directions between Malden and Wellington. Shuttle buses were bruited about.
Transit Police report they want to talk to this guy about a series of bogus phone calls to 911 about alleged crimes in the Malden Center T station.
Over the past month Transit and Malden Police have received several 911 emergency calls alleging various crimes in progress at the MBTA's Malden Center station. The calls originate from within the station. Subsequent to a joint investigation amongst Transit and Malden Police has determined these calls to be intentionally false.
Transit Police report arresting a Malden man Wednesday afternoon on a charge of open and gross conduct after bystanders observed him "committing a lewd act in the bushes by the busway" of the Malden Center T stop.
In addition to the alleged self love, police say, John Rodriguez's "personal areas were fully exposed to passersby," during the 2 p.m. incident, police say.
Innocent, etc.
MBTA Transit Police report an inbound Orange Line train hit a 22-year-old man on the tracks about a half mile north of Malden Center around 8:40 tonight. He was taken to Mass. General and is expected to survive what AlertNewEngland reports are leg injuries.
Police say Orange Line service has been replaced with buses while they investigate the incident.
MBTA police say they've arrested a man for robbing an ALS patient in a wheelchair who was waiting for an elevator at the Malden Center Orange Line stop.
Scott A. Marra, 39, of Malden, is charged with grabbing the man's wallet out of his hand, then running out of the station, on July 14. According to a statement:
The wallet contained cash, medical ID cards, a credit/debit card, and an MBTA pass for people with disabilities. Following the robbery, the victim's credit card was used to make two separate $100 purchases at a Malden gas station. In addition, the Chelsea man's MBTA pass (which is to be used only by persons with disabilities) was being fraudulently used.
MBTA Police say they were able to track Marra through the credit-card transactions. He's scheduled for arraignment on Monday in Malden District Court; he's currently being held at Transit Police headquarters in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Innocent, etc.
EnuhCork reports a singing BostonNow hawker is beginning to get on his nerves:
... He sings out to people as they approach the station. I'll do my best to describe it here through extending words by repeating vowels:
"Goooood Morning Everybody...Get Your Boston Noooooooooooooooooow!"
The "now" part of the song is really nasally.
Today, I saw a guy take a paper from the singing hawker and responded with a little tuneful, "Thank Yooooooooooooooooooooooou!" ...
TC says Charlie can kiss my ass, because all but two of the turnstiles at Malden Center were set to accept only CharlieCards today:
...Smart cards have only been distributed for the past week or so, and aren't going to hit major active use until January when they replace T Passes. So how is it that somebody thought there'd be such a dramatic increase in usage of them that it was necessary to devote the majority of the turnstiles to "smart cards only"? At rush hour! ...
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
