Charles/MGH

The MBTA reports a dead Red Line train at Charles/MGH.

Antsy tweets it just took 20 minutes to get from Kendall to Charles/MGH on the Red Line.

UPDATE: Not wanting to feel left out, the Green Line is having problems too, this time due to power issues at Government Center.

Wicked Local Somerville reports the MBTA is looking at connecting the Red and Blue lines at Charles/MGH - and wonders:

Would be nice if they concentrated their money and time on ongoing projects like the Green Line Extension and solving disputes like the placement of the maintenance facility in Inner Belt instead of coming up with additional ones in this economy.

Aaron Weber employed secret-Ninja skills to keep an MBTA transit police squad from checking his bags the other night at MGH/Charles. Oh, OK, he simply walked on the other side of the information booth from the cops.

Oh, darn, today was No Pants Day on the Red Line and we missed it.

More people with no pants.

Oddjob60 provides the latest proof that T drivers and conductors just aren't going to stop the train to see why the doors aren't closing properly, with a report from Red Line car 01625 at Charles/MGH around 7:30 this morning:

... As people went out the doors, even before anyone tried getting on, the doors closed. People inside and outside put their arms in the way, and even tried to force the doors open, which should have sent some kind of signal to the conductor so she (I looked later, it was a she) would reopen the doors, right. Nope. Not even one of those "please don't block the doors" announcements. People finally gave up, the doors closed,and off we went. At least 10 people on my car had to get off at Kendall so they could ride back to Charles. ...

A fire broke out under the tracks at Charles/MGH station on the Red Line at around 8pm this evening. As of 9:20pm, the second alarm has been called in, the third rail shut down, trains near the station evacuated and shuttle bus service has begun.

Expect disruptions to last through the end of service on 5/1.

EDIT: Red Line service was restored at 10:49pm.