commuter rail

Another person hit, killed by a commuter-rail train

adamg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:21:00 -0500

This time in Franklin this morning, MBTA Transit Police tweet. NECN reports the man, in his 40s, was struck at the Fisher Street crossing. Train 1028, outbound.

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Teen struck, killed by commuter-rail train in Belmont

adamg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:24:22 -0500

Channel 5 reports the 18-year-old was hit on the Fitchburg Line near Belmont High School.

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Worcester Line so bad early this morning MBTA told riders they shouldn't even bother

adamg — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:52:15 -0500

"Seek alternate transportation to avoid delay," the T advised, citing CSX switch problems in Worcester.

Ben tweets:

first time riding the commuter rail in a year and a half and there is a 50 minute delay. i forgot how much the train sucks. thanks mbta

MBCR electronic signs that do absolutely nothing to do something

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:40:38 -0400

" NEW Passenger Train Information System (PTIS)

The MBTA is pleased to announce that testing is in the final stages for the new PTIS (Passenger Train Information System). This upgrade will enable us to provide our passengers with real-time information generated directly from the train. Passengers will soon see train arrival information on electronic station signs (“Next train arriving in 10 minutes”). The system will also offer automated “next station stop” announcements on board the trains.

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At what point do you just let the passengers out because walking would be faster?

adamg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:59:03 -0400

Peter McStravick tweets from an inbound Worcester Line train, stuck for 30 minutes somewhere between Yawkey Way and South Station:

They should change the name of this line to 'Worst'er!'

Large construction project to get underway near Kenmore Square

adamg — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:02:04 -0400

New footprint; click for larger version.

Construction begins next summer on a $500-million project across from Fenway Park that will replace a non-descript parking lot and aging commuter-rail station with new housing and offices - some built on a deck across the turnpike - and a large new train station, developer John Rosenthal and city and state officials said today.

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Fine literature on the commute

adamg — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:46:52 -0400

Amidst all the Dan Brown and Ken Follett books, Scott Stearns noticed a commuter with a different kind of book:

... Today I noticed a man, perhaps an academic of some sort, reading Marcel Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past". Literature is not dead in the world, quite yet.

Nichole Bee tweets:

Nothing beats reading "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies" on the T...and the guy next to you turns out to be reading the exact same thing

Nightmare commute on the Worcester Line

adamg — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:10:59 -0400

The MBTA reports a series of cascading delays on the Worcester Line this morning, most notably what it says is a one-hour delay between Wellesley Hills and Boston on the 7:35 a.m. inbound train.

One hour? JTboston, who is actually on the train, tweets at 10:02 a.m. he's now been on the train for the past two hours. He posts a photo of his shoe, because, really, what else is there to do on a train that's just sitting there?

Ruggles stairs are falling down, falling down

adamg — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:10:55 -0400

Charlie on the Commuter Rail notices that rather than fix the steps down to the commuter-rail platform, the T has instead installed a weird-looking cable.

When life gives you commuter rail, make lemonade

adamg — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:28:17 -0400

Madfilkentist reports that due to some "suspect" track in the Concord area, his evening commute this week has been 30 minutes longer. On the plus side, he adds:

The good news is that in early October the Fitchburg line offers passengers a very scenic view, especially in the area of the Concord River and Walden Pond. ...