Green Line

Service on the B Line was interrupted briefly around 1:30 p.m. by a family of ducks - and bystanders trying to convince them trolley tracks are not really all they're quacked up to be. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo reports on the incident on Comm. Ave. near Blanford:

Approaching the tunnel portal, a trolley operator spotted a small group of people chasing some ducks on the Green Line right-of-way. The trolley operator stopped, and notified a Green Line supervisor. Service was interrupted for twelve minutes while the humans and waterfowl were cleared from the right-of-way.

Jamison Kissh adds workers from BU Facilities also joined in the duck hunt.

MBTA say this guy is wanted for indecent assault and battery for an incident that happened last Tuesday at Park Street.

According to police, "a female victim was inappropriately assaulted" by him while they were getting on a C trolley.

He's described as 25-30. In addition to his red T-shirt, he wore a gray hoodie with black horizontal stripes, blue jeans and sneakers.

If you know him and are disgusted, contact Transit Police at 617-222-1050 or send an anonymous text tip to 873873.

BFD response to mystery boom. Photo by Victoria Bedford.

Around 8:50 p.m., Boston firefighters and Transit Police rushed to the area of Arlington and Boylston streets after several people reported hearing a loud explosion. Cara Terez, sitting on the Rattlesnake roof deck, tweeted:

Loud LOUD explosion.

As a precaution, the T shut Green Line service as firefighters looked around on the street and in the station for the source of the boom, but they found nothing, an inbound Green Line driver reported the tunnel between Copley and Arlington was fine and service started up about 10 minutes later.

Brian D'Amico tweets police speculate a tour bus may have had an engine backfire or two.

Wire problems mean bustitution between Riverside and Kenmore.

The T announced the news tonight.

Although Copley station remained shut tonight, Alex Mellion notes:

The lights are on again at Copley! What an awesome thing to finally see!

The T just announced the station, right by the Marathon finish line, will remain closed tomorrow.

National Guard watching Red Line entrances. Photo by Gedalia Pasternak.

The heart of Copley Square remains shut down. Boston Common resembles a military encampment. Cafe tables along Newbury Street remain uncleaned as police comb the area for possible evidence.

Kirty Lee took the Green Line into work today:

Held it together until I rode through Copley station pitch black. Haunting.

A.P. Blake reports:

To Toronto.

Yesterday, the MBTA warned the tax increases proposed by the legislature were so small it could jeopardize $500 million or in anticipated federal aid for the Green Line extension. This morning, as A.P. Blake noted at 8:55 a.m.:

In the past two hours, every rapid transit line in Boston has suffered some delay due to mechanical/signal failure.

Four teens got into an argument with a Green Line operator around 4:45 p.m. at the BU West Station. The MBTA reports one of them threw a soda can at the driver. He missed, but T police nabbed him and now he faces a court appearance for assault with a dangerous weapon, an MBTA spokesman says.

A roving UHub photographer reports he watched young dude sitting on a D trolley between Kenmore and Hynes tonight as an old guy with a cane stood and struggled to stay upright:

Unbelievable. Man was clearly having trouble maintaining his balance while the trolley moved. The man even said: "I really need to sit down."

At 8:54 a.m., Rebecca, who took this photo, reported she'd been standing at the Sutherland Road Green Line stop for more than 20 minutes, and that she was a mere newcomer there - she could still feel her feet.

At the very same time, Katherine Delaney posted a photo showing things were almost as bad on the Red Line - even more crowded, but at least a train was running.

This comes the day after T General Manager Beverly Scott said she's giving serious consideration to fare hikes of up to 33% and delaying needed maintenance starting July 1.

Shawn Wolfgang photographed a green man on the Green Line.

A thronging mass of screaming teens from Braintree raised hell all the way from South Station to North Station on their way to the Garden for a basketball game, commuters report.

Some of the kids, heading to the Braintree High girls' championship game against Central Catholic, smashed a Green Line window at Park Street.

Jessica Infante rode part of the way with them on the Red Line:

Entire Red Line train packed with screaming Braintree kids. I sincerely hope you lose your basketball game.

Braintree kids kicked off train. South station now drunk pep rally turned riot. Can the grown ups get a ride now?

In the kids' defense, some apologized. None shared the contents of their Gatorade bottles.

As in the MBTA is announcing significant delays due to signal problems at Harvard.

UPDATE: The E Line is being a tad extreme today, as well, thanks to a little fire at Symphony that's shut service on the line.

Banker & Tradesman reports.

Transit Police say a driver trying to make a left turn ahead of a trolley was cited for a collision last night that left his car with damage, sent a couple of people to the hospital for observation but left the trolley unscathed.

Collision. Photo copyright Scott Eisen. More photos.

An outbound Green Line trolley hit a car around 8:10 p.m. at Comm. Ave. and Pleasant Street.

B Line service was halted; Comm. Ave. outbound was shut. An MBTA spokesman said the cause of the "minor accident" remains under investigation. One of the two people in the car complained of back pain.

Literally on track. At 8:20 a.m., A.P. Blake tweeted from North Station:

Sob Story Guy is spilling his schtick from IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREEN LINE TRACKS.

At least this time the track problems were at Harvard instead of Central. Meanwhile, shortly after 9 a.m., Meghan M tweeted:

Green line inbound passengers. My train is so 100% stuck between kenmore & hynes. Expect delays. Also send breakfast.

And to top it all off, the electronic signboard at Park Street continues to show White Sox ads.

The MBTA forwards a photo of somebody waiting for the train at Longwood this evening.

Plowing out the B Line. Photo by MBTA.

UPDATE: The T says there's now limited service on the
1, 23, 28, 32, 39, 71, 73, 77, 93, 100, 106, 108, 109, 111, 116, 275, 276 and SL5 bus routes and all Green Line branches except the B past Kenmore.

The MBTA reports some service will start at 2 p.m.:

Limited service will operate on the MBTA's Red, Orange, Blue between Orient Heights and Government Center, and Green Line between Kenmore and Lechmere. Limited bus service will also operate on the 1, 23, 28, 39, and Silver Line Washington Street Only. Unless necessary, customers are encouraged to stay home and use service sparingly.

Clearing the tracks along Comm. Ave. in Brighton. Photo by MBTA.

The MBTA says it won't restore service until at least tomorrow.

Transit Police report a man stopped for questioning at Park Street for allegedly nabbing another Green Line rider's phone turned out to be wanted on a warrant for indecent assault and battery on another MBTA train.

Upon arrival officers were met by the reporting party who stated as he was traveling on a Green Line westbound train another passenger, later identified as Dane Mullin 26 of Boston, chose to sit in between the reporting party and another female passenger despite the fact there were several other available seats. Prior to this Mullin oddly walked back and forth through the train car before taking a seat. As the train was approaching Park Street the reporting party got up from his seat and began making his way to the doors. He suddenly realized his cell phone was missing from his jacket pocket. He suspected Mullin had stolen his phone and confronted him. An MBTA employee who observed what was taking place contacted Transit Police.

Police say they did not find the other passenger's phone on Mullin, but placed him under arrest for the warrant. Mullin, a former Salem resident who now lists the Pine Street Inn as his home address, has a sex-offender record dating to when he was 17 and was convicted for grabbing a woman walking down the street in Salem.

Innocent, etc.