The MBTA today released this photo of brand-new two-level coaches being tested on the Lowell Line, between Anderson and North Billerica. The four coaches, part of a larger order that's now two years late [2], should go into service this winter.
The coaches will let the T expand capacity by eliminating the current single-level coaches, but will not help with the sort of locomotive and switching problems that caused up to 60-minute delays on some lines into South Station this morning. The T has a separate order with a different company for new locomotives [3].