Aren't all the trains on the Blue Line new?
By adamg - 12/23/09 - 11:14 am
I ask because the MBTA is reporting a dead train at Airport.
Hey, there! Log in / Register
I ask because the MBTA is reporting a dead train at Airport.
Comments
Transitional location?
Isn't Airport where the Blue Line transitions from the overhead pantograph to a third-rail power system? Any bets on this coming down to a broken pole or stuck spring?
The thrid rail to overhead wire transition
takes place at Maverick, not Airport. And it's not an "on the fly" transition, rather, the power is switched while the train is sitting in the station laodign and unloading passengers.
Blue Line has new trains
but I don't think they are running ONLY new trains yet.
They're supposed to be all new
They made a big deal of the fact last month (which, grr, I didn't write about because I was busy with other stuff at the time).
They still have 20 old cars
They still have 20 old cars as back-up reserves, but they haven't actually used any of them since November, and probably won't use them again.
I can easily imagine...
...the joys of standing on that wind tunnel of a platform at the Airport T stop, looking at a dead train.
But I will stop there: Getting to and from Logan via the Blue Line is faster than just about any other major city I know of.
DC via Washington Nat'l?
DC via Washington Nat'l?
"Washington National" God
"Washington National"
God bless you, sir.
Good too
Yup, I like taking the Metro to Nat'l. Direct to terminal, no shuttle. It can be slightly more of a schlep from downtown. But it's very convenient. Now, hopefully they do the same with Dulles.
Figuring out the rest ...
Such as "which badly labled bus should I take to my terminal from which of the poorly labled stops along a platform that is too narrow to navigate with a rollaboard suitcase " ruins the high speed experience. Is it so damn hard to figure out that people with luggage use this station and may not just know which abstractly numbered vehicle to take to Terminal A?
Um, there are signs that
Um, there are signs that clearly indicate which terminal goes with which airline, and which bus goes to each terminal. It's not at all hard to figure out.
Also not hard to figure out
LABELING BUSES with the terminals they serve!
Last I went through there, those signs were paper and taped to exposed walls - kind of hard to read after it rains.
you must not have gone
you must not have gone through there recently because they all have bright lights that read "Terminal A,B" or "Terminal C,E". On the way back, you have to wait for that to alternate with "MBTA Blue Line". Really, it's quite nice nowadays.
Massport buses are clearly labelled with terminal numbers
Generally one bus is labelled "Terminals A and B" while the other is "Terminals C and E".
That's either a new feature
... or there were stupidities due to construction. The last time I used the blue line was a couple of years ago, when they were still labled with "route 55" or other abstractions given their location. There were a few buried pieces of information so you could guess what one you were supposed to get on, but the most reasonable method was to ask the tired drivers "where does THIS bus go??".
There were serious problems on the other end - maps that prominently feature names of people but give no info on where to stand to catch what bus, no bus stop signage or directionals pointing to pick up points from various exits, etc. Almost as if Massport hacks never go anywhere they might see functional directional design in practice.
I usually take the Silver Line from work now. At least that line understands that it isn't just for people who work at the airport.
"The last time I used the blue line was a couple of years ago"
"The last time I used the blue line was a couple of years ago"
Nothing like ranting and raving about something based off years-old knowledge.
I've been there as of a few months ago. It was neither confusing nor difficult nor slow. Stepped off the train, walked 100-200 feet to the bus, was at my terminal a few minutes later.
Multiple times burned
many years shy.
My workplace also moved 2 blocks from South Station, so I have an alternative.
Is that because the Blue Line
Is that because the Blue Line doesn't go to other major cities?
:-)
Try DC
Reagan National is right on the blue (weird...) and yellow line AND 2 of the 3 terminals are directly connected to the metro station by pedestrian bridges.
Other Direct Access Airports
Chicago OHare is right on the red line, and PDX plugged the light rail right into the terminal!
Both Chicago airports are on the CTA
Not just O'Hare, but also Midway.
Conference Evaluations
I got the evaluations from conferences we ran in Portland and in Chicago. Our European and Asian researchers loved the "train direct to the airport" set up in both cities.
Of course, I've never gotten to try the train to downtown from PDX. I last came in off a late flight from Dulles after a workshop in DC and had an 8am meeting to run, so my dad insisted on picking me up.