Latest news with #Keolis
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Boston Globe
Memorial Day without a car, part II
Easier said than done, of course. If you don't want to worry about traffic at all, you could try one of the transit-served This time last year, I asked readers for their ideas on T-accessible Memorial Day spots. Here are some of them. (And no, it usually doesn't take me quite this long to go through my emails): Advertisement Joel wrote to suggest that 'every stop on the Fitchburg Line past Belmont leads to some nice walking areas.' In West Concord, for instance, you can connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. From the Lincoln station, it's an easy connection to Jonas pointed out that when the train station in New Bedford opened – which it now has – one could easily get to the Cuttyhunk Island ferry, which docks Lauren approved of an idea I proposed — opening a new commuter rail station at Walden Pond. One could visit from the existing station, but it's not especially convenient. Commuter rail operator Keolis suggests taking the train to a Other ideas for fun, outdoor, T-accessible spots? Or, places that could be transit accessible but aren't? Advertisement This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to . Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Not satisfied with South Coast Rail service? MBTA hosting public meeting in Fall River
FALL RIVER — Residents who have been unsatisfied with the MBTA's South Coast Rail service can take their complaints right to the top when MBTA General Manager Phil Eng hosts a meeting in Fall River on May 22. Eng and representatives from the MBTA and Keolis, the company contracted to run commuter rail service, will host the meeting starting at 5:30 p.m. at Morton Middle School, 1135 N. Main St. According to the MBTA, the meeting will address 'concerns occurring since service began on March 24, including noise, weekend service cancellations, Keolis staffing, and other service challenges.' The meeting is open the public. Text alerts: Worried about late or cancelled MBTA commuter trains? How to be prepared The South Coast Rail commuter rail extension was a $1 billion project decades in the making and long-delayed. The new Fall River/New Bedford Line has been plagued by almost daily delays five to 20 minutes, or longer in extreme cases. Shortly after its rollout, weekend service faced multiple cancellations due to a lack of trained staff, inconveniencing riders for hours. Some weekend trains have been replaced by shuttle buses. Other residents have noise complaints due to idling trains and at road crossings. Free weekend service, originally set to last through April as a way to tempt riders into making the service a habit, has been extended until June as an apology for substandard service. Rides to and from any of the six South Coast Rail stations — Fall River Depot, Freetown, East Taunton, Middleborough, Church Street and New Bedford — are currently free through June 1. Parking at those stations is also free. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: MBTA to hear commuter rail complaints at public meeting in Fall River
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your MBTA Commuter Rail train may now run on vegetable oil
Some MBTA Commuter Rail trains will run on a form of vegetable oil fuel through a new pilot program testing alternative power sources that could reduce the transit system's environmental impact. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, or HVO, emits less carbon than the typical diesel fuel that powers commuter rail trains, making it a more sustainable and earth-friendly alternative, Keolis, the company that operates the commuter rail for the MBTA, said in a statement announcing the pilot. The program could push the state closer to meeting its goal of having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Carbon emissions for trains using vegetable oil-based fuel are 70% lower than trains running on traditional fossil fuels, according to Abdellah Chajai, the CEO and General Manager of Keolis. 'Getting people out of their cars and onto the train is a great first step, and we need to do more if we are going to reach the commonwealth's emissions goals,' Chajai said. The pilot program, developed in partnership between Keolis and MBTA, uses the new alternative fuel for all trains that lay over at the Newburyport Commuter Rail facility, Keolis said. The company has so far measured 'steady' performance from trains using the renewable fuel source. When the pilot program concludes, the T and Keolis will determine if the vegetable oil-based fuel can be expanded to other parts of the commuter rail system. Ethics Commission accuses retired MBTA manager of violating conflict of interest law 'Mission for Mass.': Ex-MBTA boss Brian Shortsleeve launches GOP guv bid 6 MBTA Commuter Rail vs. motor vehicle crashes this year: What's to blame? 'Intense congestion' expected on the Mass. Pike for 2 upcoming weekends Funding for the T could derail Mass. budget debate. Here's how | Bay State Briefing Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MBTA, Keolis pilot new renewable diesel fuel for commuter rails
Keolis Commuter Services, partner of the MBTA Commuter Rail, has launched an alternative fuel pilot that utilizes renewable diesel for some of its locomotives. Renewable diesel aims to cut emissions and to lower the carbon footprint of the MBTA, which will help the Commonwealth reach its emission reduction goals. 'We're pleased to partner with Keolis on this renewable diesel pilot as we continuously seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint,' said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. 'Testing alternative fuel sources for our Commuter Rail fleet joins other efforts at the T to lower our carbon emissions, and we look forward to evaluating the results of the pilot as we continue to increase resiliency across the system.' The fuel pilot consists of all locomotives that lay over at the Newburyport Commuter Rail facility, which Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) are now fueling. HVO is made from a mixture of vegetable oil and animal fats, which produce fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels. As of now, Keolis has already seen steady locomotive performance while using HVO. 'Getting people out of their cars and onto the train is a great first step, and we need to do more if we are going to reach the Commonwealth's emissions goals,' said Abdellah Chajai, CEO and General Manager of Keolis. 'This pilot program is a great opportunity to utilize an innovative new approach and can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 70% for these locomotives compared to fossil diesel. We're pleased to partner with the MBTA to make this pilot project a success.' By the end of the program, MBTA and Keolis will reevaluate the performance of the renewable fuel and see if it is fit to be expanded to other locations across the MBTA. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Boston Globe
29-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
'They need to solve this problem:' South Coast rail stumbles out of the gate
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Keolis said it had trained enough workers for the new service, including a buffer to cover employee sick days and vacations, but that the buffer proved to be not big enough on weekends, when there were more absences than anticipated. The company is now training more conductors and engineers. In an encouraging sign, all scheduled trains ran last weekend. Advertisement 'We are truly sorry to the communities for what they've experienced these first few weeks,' a Keolis spokesperson told the Editorial Board. 'We're going to deliver the reliable service that folks deserve.' Hopefully, riders who've been affected by the disruptions will give the service a second chance. Advertisement But just fixing the immediate problem isn't enough; there also needs to be some accountability. The T is crucial to Greater Boston's economy. Getting more people to ride the train or bus instead of driving is also a major environmental priority. More and better train service can also cut highway congestion. Outside the Boston bubble, though, funding for the T can be a tough sell. The fact that it already gets a penny out of the statewide sales tax — meaning that people in Pittsfield and Greenfield are funding trains they'll never ride whenever they buy, say, a light bulb — is already cause for resentment. More broadly, Americans are understandably dubious about the ability of government to accomplish anything and deliver services well. South Coast rail was Which is all to say that there's a lot more at stake in whether South Coast rail runs well than just whether commuters in Fall River get to work on time, as important as that is. Effective, well-run services, and projects that are delivered in a timely fashion are the best counterarguments against critics who dismiss public investments as wasteful boondoggles. The T has already fined Keolis $51,451 for service disruptions related to crew issues, and that's a start. It would also be fair for the state to factor in the company's performance on South Coast rail so far, and how well it responds to the interruptions going forward, into whether the firm is awarded Advertisement For those who supported the South Coast rail project, including Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
