2016 Commuter Rail Delay Discussion Thread

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

embarrassing

[octr202]

Midday problems on Haverhill. From the alerts, looks like 207 (12:20 Andover, turns to 216) died between Reading and North Wilmington. 209 is pushing it into N. Wilmington. 216 is being bused, no word on what will happen to 218.

[Type 7 3684]

Haverhill Train 216 (1:25 inbound) will depart Andover 100+ min late inbound via the Haverhill Line due to a mechanical issue.

Yeesh.

[Screamer 1000]

HSP issues?

[octr202]

And that wasn't the end of it on the Western Route...

213 (16:30 outbound) apparently died in or near Lawrence station. 215 got caught behind it. According to the T alerts, 213's passengers were picked up by Amtrak to go to Bradford and Haverhill. 215's folks got bused, as did inbound 222 (213 turns to 222 at Bradford).

I was on 217 which was on time into Andover. The T alerts said it was likely in the ballpark of 90 minutes late by the time it got to Haverhill. 219 and even 221 reported as about an hour late each.

One more breakdown and they might have run as many buses for the Haverhill Line as trains this afternoon and evening.

[GP40MC1118]

A particularly lousy night at Lawrence. 213's power - one of the "We Got 40 New Engines This Winter" was
the culprit. Amtrak 685 generously took their remaining passengers east and shoved 213 east of CP-Frost.
215, with the mighty 1139, dropped their passengers at Lawrence and tied on to 213's set, but had beau-coup
air issues and was unable to clear Frost for 217.

Not to be missed are:
1) A 112 car SEPO waiting things out between CPF-AS and CPF-JK.
2) That STUPID single track station at Lawrence that MBTA signed off on. Boy did this rear its ugly head again.
3) CPF-AS new design omitted a crossover, thus reducing flexibility.
4) No-brainer as yet completed double track restoration.
5) The equally glacial progress on the Merrimack River Bridge situation.

SEPO was sent east to free up track ahead of 217.
215/213 draft finally cleared CPF-Frost and 217, Amtrak 687, 219, 221 all followed SEPO east

[GP40MC1118]

And it was one of the new engines earlier in the day too...Sigh...

D

[sery2831]

First break down of the day was the 2038. The evening rush hour was the 2033 which has had two other failures this week. Including a failure in Haverhill at night earlier in the week. The good news for Haverhill morning passengers is that right now HSPs are banned from putting up in Bradford. But trains 200 and 213 are Boston based so those most likely will see HSPs.

[BandA]

Why are the HSP's failing? And how can they send out equipment that is repeatedly failing?

[deathtopumpkins]

First break down of the day was the 2038. The evening rush hour was the 2033 which has had two other failures this week. Including a failure in Haverhill at night earlier in the week. The good news for Haverhill morning passengers is that right now HSPs are banned from putting up in Bradford. But trains 200 and 213 are Boston based so those most likely will see HSPs.

Why are they banned from Bradford?

[sery2831]

Since HSPs have to idle in the layovers for the time being, due to noise.

[NH2060]

And how can they send out equipment that is repeatedly failing?

What other choice do they really have? The HSPs were supposed to boost an already aging fleet not throw a wrench into the mix. Same goes for the Rotems.


I can almost guarantee that this is the last time the MBTA orders anything not-exactly-off-the-shelf inside and out.

[sery2831]

I can almost guarantee that this is the last time the MBTA orders anything not-exactly-off-the-shelf inside and out.

Why do you say that? They repeatedly custom order equipment. I don't blame MPI for the HSP disaster at all, they make a great product.

[octr202]

Looks like the HSP ban isn't solving the problems on the Western Route today...208 reported (via T Alerts) as 45-60 late due to mechanical problems.

[octr202]

To make up for 208, 356 was extended up to Wilmington to help cover. 208, according to T'lerts, "running at reduced speeds" and expected into North Sta 45-60 late. Stefan's tracker showing it 45 late at Wilmington as of 8:55 AM.