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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Green Line riders already deal with the slowest speeds. Now service will be less frequent this summer, too.
Advertisement An earlier posting about the service change identified the culprits for the cuts as a temporary decrease in available vehicles, and speed limit changes on the B and C branches. But after inquiries from the Globe, the MBTA clarified there will be no speed changes on any branches and that 'trip time adjustments' were made because train cars will be briefly removed from service as the agency installs Green Line Train Protection System equipment on the vehicle fleet this summer. Schedules on the B and C branches were adjusted to better reflect the actual trip times following an analysis that found trips on those branches 'were encountering minor timing challenges related to street traffic, traffic signals, and other factors,' T spokesperson Lisa Battiston said. Advertisement More than five years ago, transit service was slashed in response to the coronavirus pandemic Sean Keim, 21, a recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, lives right by the Hynes Convention Center and primarily travels on the Green Line. Keim, who dances professionally, said he has gotten stuck on a disabled train on the Green Line for up to a half-hour, unable to go anywhere, more times than he can count. 'I definitely don't think it's back to where it used to be, which is sad, because Boston is known for its public transit. So this decision to slash some of the trains, I definitely don't think is great for quality of life,' he said. With its high number of surface-level stops, the Green Line is notoriously slower than the other subway lines across the system. Speed limits on the line vary by location, from 5 miles per hour around stations, crossings, and curved sections — and up to 40 miles per hour on open, straight stretches, according to the T. Stops on the Green Line are fairly close together, so lower speeds are simply baked in. ( And the extensive track repair work that wrapped up in December didn't do much to alter that, according to an analysis Advertisement In February, the T board of directors approved a Many of the trolleys on the Green Line are decades old and frequently break down, Chris Friend, the treasurer of Transit Matters, called the impending service cuts 'really disappointing.' The Green Line 'struggles to be competitive, and this just makes it worse,' Advertisement Jasmine R., 23, who declined to give her last name because she works for a local government program and is not supposed to speak with the press, said trains running less often during the summer makes her worried for her mom, whose commute from Dorchester to East Boston is taxing and tires her out. 'It's going to be a lot for her,' she said. 'Realistically, it's kind of annoying because we've had all these promises. ... I need my train to come when it has to, so it's a little bit challenging, and I just hope for better.' Meanwhile, service on the Orange Line will improve, partly thanks to better track conditions. And, for the first time in more than a decade, the line will have 17 trains in service, according to T spokesperson Joe Pesaturo. State lawmakers are currently negotiating Justin Holtzman, 43, a physician with a private practice who is also going to law school in the city, takes the Green Line at least three times a week usually late at night, when his classes end. While not thrilled about the service cuts, Holtzman said the system has overall been running more smoothly under Eng. 'We should have a long-term, sustainable plan with funding the T. Obviously, that has to be balanced with everything else that needs to be funded,' he said. 'I guess I'm glad I'm not the one making those decisions.' Shannon Larson can be reached at
Boston Globe
01-04-2025
- Boston Globe
What to know about MBTA Red Line disruptions in April
Riders are urged to use the Fairmount commuter rail line and the From April 10-30, two shuttle trains will run between Ashmont and JFK/UMass. Red Line Reminder: April 1-9 Shuttle Buses replace service between JFK/UMass, Ashmont, & Mattapan for track work April 10-30: Service between JFK/UMass & Ashmont will operate with two shuttle trains. Visit — MBTA (@MBTA) 'Shuttle trains will operate on both tracks — riders are encouraged to follow directions via signage and station personnel,' the MBTA wrote on its Passengers can expect waits of approximately 13 minutes between trains at Ashmont, Savin Hill, and JFK/UMass, and at least 25 minutes between trains at Shawmut and Fields Corner, according to Lisa Battiston, an MBTA spokesperson. Advertisement Riders will need to transfer between the shuttle trains and other Red Line service at JFK/UMass. The shuttle trains will allow crews to work on the so-called Ashmont Diamond, a critical crossover track area that allows southbound trains to turn around and head north, Battiston said. Replacing the Ashmont Diamond will take several weeks and crews will also perform additional work, such as rebuilding conduits that protect underground cables and wires. Advertisement 'Operating the shuttle train during this time will allow us to keep riders moving on the train as opposed to having riders use shuttle buses for the entire month of April,' Battiston said. Unlike the free shuttle buses, passengers will have to pay to ride the shuttle trains. But the fare gates will be open at Ashmont, so passengers boarding there won't have to pay. 'The gates at Ashmont will be open because fare gates at Ashmont only exist at the station on the inbound platform,' Battiston said. 'Shuttle trains will operate from both the inbound and outbound platforms at Ashmont, though, so the gates there are open in order to board riders on to the shuttle trains.' For more information, visit This month crews will be working on the 'Ashmont Diamond,' a crossover track area near Ashmont station that needs to be replaced. MBTA Emily Sweeney can be reached at
