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Amtrak signal woes slow more than one train; many riders from the south feel the pain

Trains that pass through Forest Hills are being forced to slow down due to Amtrak signal problems, the T reports.

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I am so tired of the Amtrak signal excuse... especially after being on the 604 which finally got into town after 8:30am.

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Amtrak workers were at several of the signal system support sheds/bunkers south of Forest hills as well looking for the problem. Along with Forest Hills they were also in and around the Dale Village Condos off Florence Street. There are a couple of such sheds between Marion St and the Blakemore Bridge as well as a radio tower for ATO (similar to PTC) and 2-way radio communications with the trains.

The fire last year at Forest Hills that destroyed one of the bunkers has yet to be completely repaired. Select inbound trains have people board at Hyde Park's outbound track for inbound trips. This is due to their inability to switch all the trains at Forest Hills like they used to.

They did try to turn it back on back in November to disastrous results. We were waiting for a train to Providence at Hyde Park and it never arrived. We later learned that the signals had failed and the train that was coming for us made it as far as Ruggles, then had to back-track (pun appropriate) to South Station and be sent out on the INBOUND track. When the train finally pulled in 40-mins late we had to run over to the other platform. They knew we didn't know if the change so the conductors called to us and waited for us. They eventually got us back on the right track further south of there.

The signal system dates back to the early 80s by the way when the Southwest Corridor (the trench through JP and Roxbury) was created. Some of it was updated when the line was electrified for Amtrak but that was patched into the existing system.

This is not just a matter of making mechanical replacements at each signal. There are miles and miles of interactive components and computer software to deal with as well. When one piece breaks its like a light in a chain of Christmas lights that goes out and it takes time to find that one bad bulb.

Lastly, most people don't understand that trains operate on very strict federal rules and laws. It's very similar to air traffic control laws, but for trains it is stricter because in a plane you can veer off to one side if a crash is imminent. Trains don't have that luxury. There are some situations that even require a locomotive operator to get a hand-written permission slip to proceed when signals are down or other problems exist. Failure to follow the rules can get a train operator in a lot fo trouble, loose their job, and even do federal jail time, so they will not cut corners. When the trains are going slow - too slow for most people - that is because they are following the rules codified in federal regulations.

When those signals went out the rule says 10 mph - period. They do not have any choice, and they are not going to do federal time or loose their job because someone wets their pants over being late.

If you don't like it lobby Congress to change the FRA and STB regulations. Don't hold your breath however since those have been honed over 100+ years of railroad operations and accidents.

Oh yeah... Let's also remember the FAA is using outdated software too.

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