How late you are
By adamg - 2/5/09 - 8:03 am
The Globe posts an interactive chart that lets you see average on-time performance for commuter-rail lines. Fitchburg riders, you have our condolences.
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85% on time for Needham
85% on time for Needham line. I must be riding it the other 15% of the time.
What's their standard for on-time (not one minute late at the end of the line?)
and what's their methodology for collecting the data?
The standard of lateness
The article seems to be counting anything ≤5 minutes late at the end of a run as "on time."
...which might explain why...
I've noticed that the engineer seems to really open up the throttle and fly down the tracks between stops when the train is running 5 minutes or more behind--especially if we're approaching the other "magic number" of 30 minutes.
mbta
The Providence line is late 1 out of 5 trips.
Fitchburg and Haverhill is late 3 out of 10 trips.
If they are serious about this "The MBTA has a 95 percent on-time performance as a goal. Late commuter trains threaten gains in ridership" they should also publish stats that describe the length of the delays. (less than 5 mins, less than 10, less than 20, over 20)
This Fitchburg rider would like to know
...how many On-Time Service Guarantee claims the T has paid out in the past six months--especially since only one out of five claims I've made since July '08 (for delays which were quite unambiguously over 30 minutes, at least one exceeding 90 minutes) has been paid.
In talking with my fellow passengers, I've heard many people say they filed claims two, four, six months ago or longer, and haven't received anything.
OK, now can we factor out
OK, now can we factor out weekend trips (when there are fewer riders and less activity)? I can almost guarantee that the on-time percentages drop significantly during weekdays when most of us are using the trains to try to get to work.
Plus, it used to be that the MBTA only considered a train late if it arrived more than ten minutes after its scheduled time. Anyone know if this is still the case? Sorta puts a different spin when they tell you that "trains are operating on or near schedule."
I've been told by a
conductor friend that, under the T's current contract with MBCR, a commuter train is considered "on-time" if it is less than five minutes late.
Negotiation Time
I've heard that it's contract negotiation time with several of MBCR's unions. I wonder if some of them are trying to pull another silent strike off...
Fitchburg rider here. This
Fitchburg rider here. This morning's trains in Waltham were 30 minutes late. It was really cold standing there as the wind whipped off the Charles, and there's only enough shelter space for about ten people. Nobody knew how long it was going to take, until someone mentioned they got a text messsage alert from the T. There is only one electric sign at that station, and only points in one direction (cost-cutting!), so the people in the other side of the station couldn't see the sign.