Riverside

A real clown, on a clown bike, who began yelling and making threatening gestures at a woman who didn't respond when he asked how to get to Waltham.

Buses along the D this morning after a trolley decided it couldn't stand being on the tracks any longer (Ed. question: At Reservoir?).

People who want updated T alerts should follow the MBTA on Twitter.

8:45 update: MBTA.com is back up with delay information.

MBTA General Manager Rich Davey reports the first three-car train will pull out of Riverside station 7 a.m. on Monday, with a second to follow at 8:30 a.m. In e-mail, he writes:

We're starting this up on a trial basis as personnel from the Green Line and Power Department closely monitor the performance of the train and the D branch itself. If all goes well, we plan to increase the number of trips made by 3-car trains and expand the program to the B branch. You are probably aware that the Riverside and Boston College lines are the longest branches of the Green Line. All of the train platforms on the D and B branches can accommodate 3-car train sets.

He says this is the first time the Green Line will see three-car trains in five years. What spurred the return, he says, were comments from a number of customers asking for increased capacity during rush hour, at a "Join the GM" session at Riverside last month.

He adds that in the afternoon, there'll be three-car trains at 4 and 5:40 p.m.

Yes, another tree has taken out the Riverside line, this time by having the temerity to fall on the overhead wires near Longwood, sparking a brush fire. Massive bustitution and angst result.

Apparently not wanting to be left out, the C line got itself shut as well when an out-of-service trolley derailed at St. Mary's, Channel 7 tweets. More massive bustitution and angst result.

Some riders managed to get caught in both messes. Phil R. tweets:

First my D train was rerouted, then they told everyone going to Reservoir to take the next C train, which just sat there.

He says it took him two hours to get home.