2015 Commuter Rail Delay Discussion Thread

[octr202]

Most of the delays/cancellations last week started listing "equipment shortage" as the reason - especially the pre-planned short turn cancellations posted 10-12 hours in advance, which speaks to a lack of serviceable rolling stock. Taking T alerts delays reasons as gospel truth isn't a good idea, though.

The mess on commuter rail would probably be getting attention if it weren't for the fact that the subway lines are in just as bad or worse shape.

[Diverging Route]

MBTA_CR Tweet-du-Jour!

MBTA Commuter Rail @MBTA_CR · 5h 5 hours ago
Rockport/ Newburyport 12:52pm train from Newburyport to South Station is now approaching Rowley 30 minutes late.

I'll bet it's real late into South Station!

[deathtopumpkins]

"Limited" CR schedules for tomorrow have been posted:
http://www.mbta.com/winter/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Komarovsky]

Same joke schedules for the Worcester line, easily half an hour too short on the timetables after Framingham. Keolis can only hope that the rest of the contract goes perfectly for them, because this winter isn't going to be easily forgotten.

[Rockingham Racer]

MBTA_CR Tweet-du-Jour!

MBTA Commuter Rail @MBTA_CR · 5h 5 hours ago
Rockport/ Newburyport 12:52pm train from Newburyport to South Station is now approaching Rowley 30 minutes late.

I'll bet it's real late into South Station!

Yup, waiting for the N-S Link to be built. Sounds like some wishful thinking!

[Rockingham Racer]

I noticed on the "Recovery Schedule" for the Haverhill line that there is going to be busing between Bradford and Haverhill, but for only two trains. Anybody know why?

[octr202]

This is the same busing that's been provided for the better part of a year. Two trains are bused due to one of the bridge tracks being out of service, making Haverhill a single-track station for the moment.

Meanwhile, back to what is operating, 306 & 308 from Lowell were cancelled despite being on the reduced schedule. Haverhill seems to be running, but 206 was reported delayed due to heavy ridership. 208 is still operating via the Lowell Line, so I guess anyone who can't get on in Melrose can just take the next train in about 3 hours.

[Komarovsky]

Fun times on the inbound Worcester line. 506 was delayed about 20 minutes this morning and ended up running on 508's schedule. 508 is delayed 60-70 minutes as a result.

Because 506 was picking up essentially 2 train loads of passengers at each west of Framingham stop, it completely filled up by the time it arrived at Framingham and isn't able to take on any additional passengers from any of the 8 stops after Framingham.

[Diverging Route]

Fun on the Lowell Line this morning.

Early trains cancelled:
302
352
306
308

304 ran, running about 25 minutes late. It was a six-car set, including one Rotem. Packed. To. The. Rafters.

So of the first five trains on a weekday rush hour, through 8am, one train ran.

[octr202]

Extras dispatched on the northside. Reports on Twitter that 206 filled up at Reading. T Alerts said an extra would leave Reading at 8:30, and Salem at 9:15.

[Rockingham Racer]

Extras dispatched on the northside. Reports on Twitter that 206 filled up at Reading. T Alerts said an extra would leave Reading at 8:30, and Salem at 9:15.

It sounds as though Keolis may need to tweak their "recovery schedule"..... It seems the Reading short-turns get axed as soon as there's a problem.

[ck4049]

They better come up with a new revised edition of the schedule before the evening rush or else they will be screwed.....

[chrisf]

Extras dispatched on the northside. Reports on Twitter that 206 filled up at Reading. T Alerts said an extra would leave Reading at 8:30, and Salem at 9:15.

It sounds as though Keolis may need to tweak their "recovery schedule"..... It seems the Reading short-turns get axed as soon as there's a problem.

I've only paid attention to the Needham schedule but it seems that there should be a lot more padding on the turnaround times on both ends. Even skipping trains at peak, there's just no way to get back on schedule.

[Rockingham Racer]

I just went back and looked at the Haverhill schedule. IINM, they have scheduled exactly the same amount of time between stops as the regular schedule on a sunny day in June. Obviously, that will lead to trains falling of the schedule in this type of weather.

[djimpact1]

The Patriot Ledger reported on their website today that the entire Greenbush Line was shut down completely this morning due to "accumulation of snow & ice".