Of secondary importance, runs on the Providence line are ending at South Attleboro, with buses to Providence.
]]>Of secondary importance, runs on the Providence line are ending at South Attleboro, with buses to Providence.
]]>During the pre-weather chit-chat, the meteorologist (I think it was Kevin Lemanowicz) opined that with the earlier shift to Daylight Saving Time, it would be interesting to watch what happens to all those weather records, since there's more sunlight, so it'll get warmer. I guess he forgot that DST only changes the time of sunrise and sunset-- it doesn't alter Earth's orbit around the Sun.
]]>During the pre-weather chit-chat, the meteorologist (I think it was Kevin Lemanowicz) opined that with the earlier shift to Daylight Saving Time, it would be interesting to watch what happens to all those weather records, since there's more sunlight, so it'll get warmer. I guess he forgot that DST only changes the time of sunrise and sunset-- it doesn't alter Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Did I really hear this? It's so dumb, and neither of the anchors even questioned it, that I seriously wonder.
If he did say it, then that meteorology degree isn't holding up very well.
]]>I don't think it was this bad a year ago, and I notice I'm not the only one who's asking why. To a Wilmington commuter, The T's Dan Grabauskas suggested:
]]>I don't think it was this bad a year ago, and I notice I'm not the only one who's asking why. To a Wilmington commuter, The T's Dan Grabauskas suggested:
Although, as you note, this odor is very unpleasant, I assure you that it is not harmful and there is no reason to be concerned about any long term effects.
I hope not, and I don't want to start a panic, but last week I heard a different opinion from someone who probably knows the T better than Grabauskas. I don't know his source, but he says the smell could be carcinogenic, and it's caused by brake shoes MBCR had made on the cheap, where the low bidder used materials the EPA has not approved.
Like I said, I hope not, because I'd hate to think my unavoidable commute is shortening my life. In the course of a typical weekday, I can't avoid the stink. I smelled it in the center of a crowded car today, which rather goes against this other comment from Grabauskas:
While this odor is usually confined to the undercarriage of the train, certain weather conditions such as a change in wind direction may result in the odor being carried into the coach interior. The odor may also be more powerful for commuters sitting in the end sections of the coach or when the coach doors remain open longer than usual at busier stops.
Sorry, but that's just plain wrong, Mr. G. Every time a train stops, and especially at stations with no platform, the smell goes everywhere.
By the way, the subway brake shoes in Montreal aparrently cause the stations to smell of peanuts. Maybe the T should look into buying from their supplier instead?
]]>To all Fairmount Line customers:
Due to the unscheduled closure of the Columbia Road Bridge there will be no commuter rail trains allowed to operate on the Dorchester Branch until the necessary repairs have been made. This is expected to last into this evening’s peak hour commute; however we anticipate that regularly scheduled service will resume for tomorrow morning.
Please note the following alternative arrangements:
Passengers going to Readville should use the Franklin line
]]>
To all Fairmount Line customers:
Due to the unscheduled closure of the Columbia Road Bridge there will be no commuter rail trains allowed to operate on the Dorchester Branch until the necessary repairs have been made. This is expected to last into this evening’s peak hour commute; however we anticipate that regularly scheduled service will resume for tomorrow morning.
Please note the following alternative arrangements:
Passengers going to Readville should use the Franklin line
Fairmount customers should take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and take the Rte 32 bus to Cleary Square.
Morton Street customers should take the Red Line to Ashmont and take the Rte 21 bus to Morton Street or alternatively the Orange Line to Forest Hills and take the Rte 21 bus to Morton Street
Uphams Corner passengers should take the Red Line to Andrew Station then take the Rte 16 bus to Uphams Corner.
Alternatively, if you prefer to travel by way of commuter rail from South station the following arrangements have been made:
Passengers traveling to Uphams Corner should take the Providence, Stoughton or Franklin Lines to Ruggles and take Bus 15
Passengers traveling to Morton St. should take the Needham Line to Forest Hills, then take bus 21.
Passengers traveling to Fairmount and Franklin should take the Providence or Stoughton Lines to Hyde Park, and then take Bus 32.
Can anyone help with a map of where this is? And am I right in thinking that on that day a couple of weeks ago, when a downed electric line at Ruggles forced trains onto the Dorchester Branch, they all passed over this bridge? Could that have anything to do with the sudden closure?
]]>Even without stops, we're still 15+ minutes late to South Station. I wonder how long it'll take to fix this mess!
]]>Even without stops, we're still 15+ minutes late to South Station. I wonder how long it'll take to fix this mess!
]]>Then I imagine all the gas that's not being burned today. How many tons of carbon dioxide and pollutants have we all saved from entering the atmosphere? How much wear and tear has been saved on the roads and our cars? And those who do have to drive have a clearer way. Shouldn't we do this every day?
Or is the upside outweighed by my (and everyone else's) consumption of extra electricity and heating oil at home?
]]>As the Sunday story notes, three years is less than what MBCR wanted, but more than the minimum for a transition to a new contract.
Which begs the question: with MBCR's performance so poor throughout the life of the contract, why wasn't MBTA making preparations to rebid the contract on time?
]]>As the Sunday story notes, three years is less than what MBCR wanted, but more than the minimum for a transition to a new contract.
Which begs the question: with MBCR's performance so poor throughout the life of the contract, why wasn't MBTA making preparations to rebid the contract on time?
]]>Commuter Rail Providence/Stoughton - Train #0804 (6:07am inbound) experiencing 10-15 minute delays due to mechanical failure 12/4/2007 6:17 AM
By the time I got to my station, the displays said 15-20 minutes late, and the train was indeed about 15 minutes late.
I also got a less useful note right when we arrived at South Station that service was "on or near schedule from an earlier mechanical failure", which is a rather convoluted way of saying that either the train arrived, or that no delays followed behind it.
Even though this instance worked well, I don't know if I'll ever trust this system enough to stay home a few extra minutes. But it might prompt me to grab an extra sweater if I have to wait outside longer.
]]>Commuter Rail Providence/Stoughton - Train #0804 (6:07am inbound) experiencing 10-15 minute delays due to mechanical failure 12/4/2007 6:17 AM
By the time I got to my station, the displays said 15-20 minutes late, and the train was indeed about 15 minutes late.
I also got a less useful note right when we arrived at South Station that service was "on or near schedule from an earlier mechanical failure", which is a rather convoluted way of saying that either the train arrived, or that no delays followed behind it.
Even though this instance worked well, I don't know if I'll ever trust this system enough to stay home a few extra minutes. But it might prompt me to grab an extra sweater if I have to wait outside longer.
]]>The nice letter hints at why it took so long:
]]>The nice letter hints at why it took so long:
We have reviewed your submission and verified that you are entitled to a complimentary fare based on your service being delayed by 30 minutes or more.
Of course, it's in the form of two one-way train tickets, and I have a pass, but never fear...
...you may redeem them for cash... at Back Bay, North Station and South Station ticket offices with the presentation of this letter and a valid photo ID during regular business hours within 90 days of the date indicated on this letter.
Nice of them to give me three months to redeem the tickets, since it took them twice as long to send them in the first place. The last dig is the best one, though:
We apologize for any inconvenience and frustration you may have experienced due to this delay in MBTA service...
An hour stuck on the Rte. 128 platform in single-digit cold? Pshaw! Think nothing of it.
...Thank you for your understanding as we were experiencing a delay due to Signal Failure.
OK, they're just making stuff up. We were delayed because the train in front of us broke down! How do I know? We pushed it into the station!! If they can't get it right, they should just apologize and move on; at this point, I'm surprised to get the money at all.
]]>The result will be a new Boston.com that is easier, fresher, and more useful than ever before. Among the changes that you will notice beginning today on the home page, article pages, and soon throughout the site:
* Our pages are wider, less cluttered, and designed with more breathing room.
* The type is easier to read, and directions around the site are more straightforward.
Anyone know what kind of user feedback they used to guide the new site?
]]>The result will be a new Boston.com that is easier, fresher, and more useful than ever before. Among the changes that you will notice beginning today on the home page, article pages, and soon throughout the site:
* Our pages are wider, less cluttered, and designed with more breathing room.
* The type is easier to read, and directions around the site are more straightforward.
Anyone know what kind of user feedback they used to guide the new site?
]]>Gee I miss Newbury Pizza.
Gee I miss Conran's on Exeter St.
Gee I miss the Hancock observatory.
Gee I miss "Where's Boston."
Then there's the Harvard Square version, which is somewhat longer... And includes some things that are nominally still there.
Gee I miss The Coop.
Gee I miss The Harvard Square Cinema.
Gee I miss The Wursthaus.
Gee I miss Discount Records.
Gee I miss The Spa.
Gee I miss Ruggles Pizza.
Gee I miss 10 Arrow,
What spots do you miss? What's new that makes up for it?
]]>Gee I miss Newbury Pizza.
Gee I miss Conran's on Exeter St.
Gee I miss the Hancock observatory.
Gee I miss "Where's Boston."
Then there's the Harvard Square version, which is somewhat longer... And includes some things that are nominally still there.
Gee I miss The Coop.
Gee I miss The Harvard Square Cinema.
Gee I miss The Wursthaus.
Gee I miss Discount Records.
Gee I miss The Spa.
Gee I miss Ruggles Pizza.
Gee I miss 10 Arrow,
What spots do you miss? What's new that makes up for it?
And, for those seeking more thorough lost Harvard Square reminders, there's this.
]]>But should I have expected the 11-mile traffic crawl that started 2 miles before the 95-128 split, and continued all the way to Rt. 1 in Walpole?
Oh, and Brazil won, 3-1. Party on.
]]>But should I have expected the 11-mile traffic crawl that started 2 miles before the 95-128 split, and continued all the way to Rt. 1 in Walpole?
Oh, and Brazil won, 3-1. Party on.
]]>This morning on our way in to South Station, the conductor came down the aisle as usual. He paused at the seat in front of mine, and looked carefully at the man slouched in it. The passenger was napping. The conductor gently reached down and adjusted something; to me it looked like he dog-eared a page in the rider's book, so he wouldn't lose his place during the nap.
I was touched, not just by the gesture, but the expression of caring on the conductor's face. Train 804, front car--you know who you are, and thanks.
]]>This morning on our way in to South Station, the conductor came down the aisle as usual. He paused at the seat in front of mine, and looked carefully at the man slouched in it. The passenger was napping. The conductor gently reached down and adjusted something; to me it looked like he dog-eared a page in the rider's book, so he wouldn't lose his place during the nap.
I was touched, not just by the gesture, but the expression of caring on the conductor's face. Train 804, front car--you know who you are, and thanks.
]]>