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By adamg - 12/16/11 - 4:32 pm

No, it's not when you miss the last train to Haverhill because the Orange Line was delayed. It's people realizing too late they're looking for love on the T. We eagerly await MBTA Forum, with letters that begin, "Dear MBTA Forum, I never thought I'd be writing something like this, but ..."

By adamg - 12/16/11 - 7:11 am

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports the city has put the T's Arborway bus yard on its list of problem properties, which it usually uses for places at high risk of catastrophic fires, excessive illegal activities and the like. In the yard's case, the issue is chemical storage and fumes. The T has shelved plans to renovate the property, citing lack of money.

By adamg - 12/14/11 - 8:08 am

Orange Line riders wait for mystery shuttle bus at Green. Photo by Rick Pinchera.Orange Line riders wait for mystery shuttle bus at Green. Photo by Rick Pinchera.

UPDATE, 9:24 a.m.: The T says normal service has resumed, but with "residual delays."

You'd be hard pressed to pick a worse time for the Orange Line to die than 8 a.m. on a weekday. But there's no service south of Ruggles as the T tries to figure out where the power went. Shuttle buses are allegedly plying the roads; the queueing masses at Forest Hills are being told to take the 39. Rider Jennifer M sums it up:

BLARG

Of course, the problems quickly backed up north of downtown as well. Shana O. tweets:

Stuck on an orange line train packed like sardines delayed at CC, feeling claustrophobic

By adamg - 12/12/11 - 5:18 pm

Newton Police report the attack happened around 10:30 a.m.:

The victim was on the T platform when she was attacked from behind and thrown to the ground. The victim's cell phone was stolen during the attack.

Police report, however, five arrests were made.

By adamg - 12/12/11 - 11:40 am

Some photos from the good ol' days, back when there was a direct rail link between South and North stations.

Fans of absurd disasters, of course, recall that the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 took out part of the el on Commercial Street.

By adamg - 12/12/11 - 9:44 am

A Harvard manA Harvard manTransit Police have made an arrest for a November incident in which a guy allegedly poked a woman's crotch with a finger as their Red Line tra

By adamg - 12/9/11 - 5:40 pm
Casey Overpass protesters

Sarah Freeman (l.) and Beth Worell were among the protesters on New Washington Street under the Casey Overpass today urging the state Department of Transportation to replace the crumbling hulk with at-grade intersections and parks.

By adamg - 12/7/11 - 5:03 pm

A concerned T rider files this report via e-mail:

CharlieCards seem to be expiring today in spite of the promised extension.

This morning, my everyday card with a monthly pass on it came up as "EXPIRED" and wouldn't let me in. The attendant at Davis said that this was happening a lot - he gave me a new card, told me to go to Downtown Crossing to get the pass transferred over, and to tailgate someone to get in this morning.

By adamg - 12/4/11 - 8:21 pm

In fact, this photo is part of a set by the MBTA showing re-painting at the station while the Red Line is shut down for track work.

By adamg - 12/2/11 - 8:38 am

The race for a seat on the Red Line goes to the swift.

By adamg - 12/2/11 - 8:03 am

Martin Connolly reports some savvy/sneaky inbound commuters at Stony Brook and Green Street take the outbound train to Forest Hills, then don't get off as the train becomes an inbound one, which reduces the odds that poor Forest Hill saps like him can get a seat.

By adamg - 12/1/11 - 8:01 am

So far this morning trains have had to be taken out of service on the Red, Orange and Riverside lines. The E Line is stopping at Brigham Circle because of a car accident further up the line. No word yet from the Blue Line.

By adamg - 11/30/11 - 6:54 pm

Somewhere between Park and Harvard is an Alewife-bound train that simply couldn't take it anymore, to the consternation of riders on both it and other trains stuck because of it, not to mention the people who finally straggle to Alewife only to find that the parking garage is, of course, releasing them into the wild only very reluctantly.

By adamg - 11/30/11 - 2:24 pm

LocomotiveLocomotive

By adamg - 11/30/11 - 7:43 am

The Metro reports MBTA inspectors will be swarming 12 key Green Line stops today and through the end of December for a "fare enforcement blitz." The T also plans to seek legislation to increase the fine for fare evasion from $15 to $100.

By Ferris Wheels Bike Shop - 11/29/11 - 5:59 pm

A Forest Hills bridge is a connector, not a barrier, because it keeps 24,000 vehicles per day that are not going to local destinations off local streets. With the bridge, the traffic volumes on New Washington Street are kept relatively low, about one-third of what traffic volumes would be without a bridge.

By adamg - 11/29/11 - 1:59 pm

Two former officials of the union that represents MBTA inspectors were indicted today on charges they sucked more than $300,000 out of union coffers, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Brian Sheehey, secretary-treasurer of Local 600 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union for five years, is charged with embezzling $250,000. John Horan, local president for 10 years, stands accused of taking $78,000.

The DA's office says the skimming was uncovered last year after Sheehey lost an election to succeed the retiring Horan as president and the union's new leaders had the books audited.

By adamg - 11/29/11 - 12:06 pm

Yep, just when you thought nothing else could cause problems on the T. Channel 4 reports hazmat crews are in the busway with a truck, licensed to carry radioactive materials, with readings showing a possible leak.

UPDATE: Crews began clearing scene shortly after noon, when readings showed acceptable levels.

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