Worcester line

Service cuts? They'll show you service cuts

adamg — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:45:10 +0000

So far this cold January morning, trains have died on the Red, Blue and Green lines and the Worcester Line is experiencing major delays.

At 8:34 a.m., Tanya K. tweeted:

Two empty, broken down trains we will be pushing in. 1000+ frozen, frustrated people cramming into this one. MBTA Red Line. Good times.

A few minutes later, Candice Springer added:

Thank you, MBTA for stranding me outside on the Wollaston platform in the EFFING cold. Now I have to go all the way back to drive in to work

Aging trains react poorly to the cold

adamg — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:36:06 +0000

A Worcester Line train died this morning in Natick; commuters on that train and the one behind it, which wound up pushing it into town, were, of course, seriously late.

Some trains into North Station were delayed by the ever popular switch problems. At least one Greenbush train was also late because, well, who knows?

Delays pre-announced for some commuter-rail lines tomorrow

adamg — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:05:20 +0000

The MBTA reports that commuters on the Worcester, Fitchburg and Haverhill lines should expect delays tomorrow morning due to storm damage.

MBTA says all lines running

adamg — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:59:16 +0000

Although some may have some delays, the T says.

Updated Monday morning

Commuters, EMTs revive man who collapsed at West Newton train station

adamg — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:05:50 +0000

Dave reports an incident shortly before 8 a.m. at the West Newton commuter-rail stop:

Exciting AM - just did CPR on a commuter at west newton. We got to him just after he collapsed; started CPR.

And Newton EMS shocked him from vfib back to sinus rhythm ... He had a pulse when we put him on the ambulance.

Remember when the Worcester Line had all sorts of problems in the winter?

adamg — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:55:28 +0000

Summer's here.

Worcester Line? More like Worst-er Line this morning

adamg — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:53:47 +0000

Train stuck on a switch in Worcester wreaking all kinds of havoc. Jim White reports from down the line in Westboro:

Three trains' worth of people on the platform in Westboro from two cancelled trains. Blah. Guess I'll head to Riverside.

T employees don't read the papers, apparently

adamg — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:23:35 +0000

So after the four-hour ride from hell on the Worcester Line on Monday, MBCR apologized and conductors gave riders forms to get reimbursed for their trips - for both the ride out and the not-quite-as-godawful ride in in the morning. Kelsin reports what happened when he and his wife tried to get reimbursed at North Station:

When we got up to the ticket window the lady rudely asked why we filled out $12.50. We told her that we were delayed on the inbound and outbound and she then told us we needed two forms, not just one and that the conductor should have giving us two. We told her that he didn't and that the forms says we're allowed two and she just says "Not without two forms". Another employee came over to tell us the same thing.

Are you serious? Clearly communication is awful since the conductor didn't know, or didn't tell us this. Now tomorrow morning we need to ask for another form and see if the conductor still has it.

State: Land deal clears way for Green Line extension, new commuter-rail service, massive development

adamg — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:33:48 +0000

MassDOT today announced an agreement to swap land at Lechmere with land by North Station that will lead to a new rail service north and west of Boston - and actual construction of the long stalled North Point development.

MBTA could go five loco

adamg — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:46:55 +0000

MassDOT and the T have pressed into service five commuter-rail locomotives (shown here in Worcester) from Maryland to see if they're worth buying. MassDOT reports the units were rebuilt in 1995 and are in "very good" condition, and could help ease problems caused by our failing locomotives until new diesels come online in a couple years.

Another view.

MBTA pulls out all the stops to make sure Worcester Line riders get home on time tonight

adamg — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:43:01 +0000

After last night's inaugural sleeper-car service, the MBTA made sure to have one of those new Utah locomotives at the front of the 5 p.m. train to Worcester at South Station.

Meanwhile, MBCR, which operates the T's commuter lines, offered a free ride to passengers to make up for yesterday's ordeal.

UPDATE: Well, that didn't last long. Rob Friedman tweets from the 5:35 p.m. train to Worcester:

5:35 dead stopped outside South Station. Seriously?????

Green Line picks up where it left off; Red Line joins in

adamg — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:40:03 +0000

Dead train at Boylston means delays on all trains outbound from Park. At 7:47 a.m., Vilma Torres reported:

I've been stuck btween park st & boylston for over 30 mins.

A cranky Red Line didn't want to be left out. Joe Pitha tweeted around 7:40 a.m.:

Stuck just outside of Park because of disabled train. So close to the station I want to ask the motorman to open the door and let me walk.

Another Red Line commuter, stuck on a train somewhat north of downtown, reports via e-mail that the T has yet to start announcing the delays, but is continuing to play Rachel Kaprelian's warnings about texting and driving.

Meanwhile, speaking of the Lord of the Flies Local on the Worcester Line last night, Channel 5 reports the breaking news out of Worcester this morning: A train left on time.

90 minutes and counting on a train

adamg — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:39:37 +0000

UPDATE: Would you believe a three-hour delay on the Worcester line?

No, not on the Green Line, which is having major problems tonight, but on the Worcester commuter-rail line.

Kristen Garvey reports from somewhere not all that far out of South Station:

Okay, MBTA, we have been stuck here for close to 90 min. Can u send the rescue train? Mass Pike you look better everyday.

Patricia Lupien adds:

The natives are getting restless. I think other passengers are drawing straws to make a sacrifice.

Probably because it couldn't consumate the trip

adamg — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:24:52 +0000

Jim White reports that he arrived at the Westboro train station this morning just in time to see the alert board flash that the 504 into Boston had been "annulled."

But at least he could catch the next train. Riders on the Newburyport/Rockport line are being herded onto buses because somebody fed Viagra to the Beverly drawbridge again (yes, it got stuck in the upright position again and they can't get it down).

Joe Pitha, who found himself on the wrong side of that bridge this morning, proposes:

New idea: MBTA has service that calls the employer of the passengers and apologizes to them for being late.

The inscrutable Worcester Line

adamg — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:20:34 +0000

Ian Lamont, who lives in Newton, tweets from aboard an outbound Worcester Line train tonight:

Outbound train on Worcester line stopped, put in reverse to Yawkey, wait til end of Sox game. I was already halfway home.

Passengers restless. Threatening not to pay for being sent back to Boston. Conductor: We're just following orders.

So train backs into Yawkey, picks up 20 ppl, immediately leaves, even though throngs still running from Fenway Park to catch it.